Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta‐analyses in ecology and evolutionary biology: a PRISMA extension

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 96(5), P. 1695 - 1722

Published: May 7, 2021

Since the early 1990s, ecologists and evolutionary biologists have aggregated primary research using meta-analytic methods to understand ecological phenomena. Meta-analyses can resolve long-standing disputes, dispel spurious claims, generate new questions. At their worst, however, meta-analysis publications are wolves in sheep's clothing: subjective with biased conclusions, hidden under coats of objective authority. Conclusions be rendered unreliable by inappropriate statistical methods, problems used select research, or within itself. Because these risks, meta-analyses increasingly conducted as part systematic reviews, which use structured, transparent, reproducible collate summarise evidence. For readers determine whether conclusions from a review should trusted - able build upon authors need report what they did, why did it, found. Complete, reporting is measured 'reporting quality'. To assess perceptions standards quality reviews published ecology biology, we surveyed 208 researchers relevant experience (as authors, reviewers, editors), detailed evaluations 102 papers between 2010 2019. Reporting was far below optimal approximately normally distributed. Measured lower than community perceived, particularly for required measure trustworthiness. The minority assessed that referenced guideline (~16%) showed substantially higher average, interest improve quality. leading improving Preferred Items Systematic Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Here unveil an extension PRISMA serve biology: PRISMA-EcoEvo (version 1.0). checklist 27 main items that, when applicable, reported summarising biology. In this explanation elaboration document, provide guidance editors, explanations each item on checklist, including supplementary examples papers. Authors consult both planning writing stages meta-analysis, increase submitted manuscripts. Reviewers editors manuscripts review. Overall, resource biology facilitate transparent comprehensively meta-analyses.

Language: Английский

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City sicker? A meta‐analysis of wildlife health and urbanization

Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 17(10), P. 575 - 583

Published: Nov. 4, 2019

Urban development can alter resource availability, land use, and community composition, which, in turn, influences wildlife health. Generalizable relationships between health urbanization have yet to be quantified could vary across different measures of among species. We present a phylogenetic meta‐analysis 516 comparisons the toxicant loads, parasitism, body condition, or stress urban non‐urban populations reported 106 studies spanning 81 species 30 countries. found small but significant negative relationship health, driven by considerably higher loads greater parasite abundance, diversity, and/or likelihood infection parasites transmitted through close contact. Invertebrates amphibians were particularly affected, with having physiological than their counterparts. also strong geographic taxonomic bias research effort, highlighting future needs. Our results suggest that some types risks are more pronounced for areas, which important implications conservation.

Language: Английский

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Factors affecting the spread of parasites in populations of wild European terrestrial mammals

Mammal Research, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 64(3), P. 301 - 318

Published: March 7, 2019

There are many different factors involved in parasitism. The general concept of "filters" proposed by Combes includes "encounter filters" (behavior, biodiversity) and "compatibility (resources, defense) to explain mechanisms responsible for the formation host–parasite coexistence. However, researches explaining reasons spread dynamics parasites populations wild terrestrial mammals Europe specific affecting prevalence intensity parasitosis limited. Many factors, ecological, biological, anthropogenic, form a complex network interdependencies that shape this pattern. Here, I summarize current state knowledge on parasitic diseases inhabiting European continent. It indicates need further development, not only academic reasons, but also benefit use management mammal species disease control nature.

Language: Английский

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Long-term collapse in fruit availability threatens Central African forest megafauna

Science, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 370(6521), P. 1219 - 1222

Published: Sept. 24, 2020

Afrotropical forests host much of the world's remaining megafauna, although these animals are confined to areas where direct human influences low. We used a rare long-term dataset tree reproduction and photographic database forest elephants assess food availability body condition an emblematic megafauna species at Lopé National Park, Gabon. Our analysis reveals 81% decline in fruiting over 32-year period (1986-2018) 11% fruit-dependent from 2008 2018. Fruit famine one last strongholds for African should raise concern about ability this other persist long term, with potential consequences broader ecosystem biosphere functioning.

Language: Английский

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Food supplementation affects gut microbiota and immunological resistance to parasites in a wild bird species

Journal of Applied Ecology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 57(3), P. 536 - 547

Published: Feb. 3, 2020

Abstract Supplemental feeding can increase the overall health of animals but also have varying consequences for dealing with parasites. Furthermore, mechanism mediating effect food supplementation on host–parasite interactions remains poorly understood. The goal study was to determine host defences against parasitic nest flies and whether gut microbiota, which affect immunity, potentially mediates these relationships. In a fully crossed design, I experimentally manipulated abundance Protocalliphora sialia availability then characterized immune responses parasite nestling eastern bluebirds Sialia sialis . Food supplemented birds had 75% fewer parasites than unsupplemented birds. Parasite decreased throughout breeding season birds, did not change increased fledging success. Parasitism sublethal blood loss, mitigated effects by increasing resistance via IgY antibody response. bacterial diversity in nestlings, negatively related abundance. relative Clostridium spp. positively their response Synthesis applications Overall, results this suggest that supplementation, especially early season, increases parasitism during life stage host, might be mediated microbiota. Wildlife is common pastime humans worldwide therefore it important understand activity animal health. supplemental could induce detrimental (e.g. invasive parasites) hosts when management immediately possible.

Language: Английский

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Are we overestimating risk of enteric pathogen spillover from wild birds to humans?

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 95(3), P. 652 - 679

Published: Jan. 31, 2020

Enteric illnesses remain the second largest source of communicable diseases worldwide, and wild birds are suspected sources for human infection. This has led to efforts reduce pathogen spillover through deterrence wildlife removal habitat, particularly within farming systems, which can compromise conservation ecosystem services provide. Further, Salmonella spp. a significant cause avian mortality, leading additional concerns. Despite numerous studies enteric bacteria in policies discourage from food we lack comprehensive understanding bird involvement transmission humans. Here, propose framework pathogens humans, includes acquisition, reservoir competence bacterial shedding, contact with people food, survival environment. We place literature into this identify important knowledge gaps. Second, conduct meta-analysis prevalence data three pathogens, Campylobacter spp., E. coli, 431 North American breeding species. Our review revealed that only 3% addressed complete system transmission. In our meta-analysis, found 27% across birds, while estimates pathogenic coli (20%) (6.4%) were lower. There was bias species have been tested, most focusing on small number taxa common near (e.g. European starlings Sturnus vulgaris rock pigeons Columba livia) or commonly waste gulls). No available 65% species, including many humans black-billed magpie Pica hudsonia great blue heron Ardea herodias), metadata suggest some under-studied taxonomic groups, guilds may represent equivalent greater risk infection than heavily studied conclude current do not provide sufficient information determine likelihood thus preclude management solutions. The primary focus likely overestimates probability because must survive long enough at an infectious dose be strain is able colonize future research should large production demonstrate shedding strains environment where them. Finally, assessing duration intensity faeces will help crucial missing necessary calculate probability. Addressing these essential gaps support policy enhance currently undermined by unsupported fears birds.

Language: Английский

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Positive feedback between parasite infection and poor host body condition reduces host survival in the wild

Functional Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 27, 2025

Abstract Host–parasite relationships are ubiquitous on Earth. Although parasites reduce host health, parasite infections also occur due to compromised health. Both causalities could induce positive feedback, in which infected hosts with poor body conditions may suffer further infection. Such feedback increase mortality and finally affect population dynamics. However, both how dynamics has rarely been demonstrated the wild, mainly methodological difficulties. Here, we used a mark‐recapture survey combined structural equation modelling (SEM) examine whether occurred stream salmonid parasitic copepod system. We examined factors affecting apparent survival of during period using Cormack–Jolly–Seber (CJS) model. Our target Salmincola markewitschi is relatively large, attaching mouth cavity white‐spotted charr Salvelinus leucomaenis , enabled long‐term tracking natural without sacrificing either or parasite. SEM time‐series snapshot data detected simultaneous occurrence causalities, that copepods reduced condition poorer were more likely by parasites, suggesting feedback. Furthermore, negative effects frequently compared opposite causal link (high susceptibility condition), strengths links fluctuated across seasons initial infection statuses. The CJS model revealed survival. mouth‐attaching might have altering foraging behaviour and/or inducing physiological costs such as immunity. High fish was probably caused low resource allocations immunity behavioural defences against parasites. These direct indirect processes should incur strong stresses fish, leading higher mortality. findings provided first empirical evidence between influence wild via reduction Heavily created play important roles spreading, for example, super spreader. Together, would thus be ecological better understand populations. Read free Plain Language Summary this article Journal blog.

Language: Английский

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Revealing the first records of endoparasitic interactions in the non-native fish Moenkhausia costae within a reservoir in Northeastern Brazil

Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 97(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Abstract Parasites are an important part of ecosystems, but frequently ignored in studies on major anthropogenic impacts aquatic environments. Biological invasions responsible for biodiversity loss, and one the possible consequences water transfer projects. In addition, there is a possibility that non-native species brings, at least part, its parasite fauna to invaded area, or acquire new parasites environment. Here, we investigated endoparasites fish was recently recorded upper Paraíba River basin, Northeastern Brazil, after project. Fifty specimens Moenkhausia costae were collected from Poções reservoir, Monteiro municipality, State. Forty-two hosts parasitized (84%), 179 collected. The endoparasite community composed six nematodes. There no significant correlation between parasitism size hosts, nor host’s condition factor. Although non-parasitized did not differ, relative factor significantly higher fish. Future should investigate which introduced with M. costae, ones

Language: Английский

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Fitness Costs of Parasites Explain Multiple Life-History Trade-Offs in a Wild Mammal

The American Naturalist, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 197(3), P. 324 - 335

Published: Nov. 16, 2020

AbstractReproduction in wild animals can divert limited resources away from immune defense, resulting increased parasite burdens. A long-standing prediction of life-history theory states that these parasites harm the reproductive individual, reducing its subsequent survival and fecundity, producing reproduction-fitness trade-offs. Here, we examined associations among allocation, immunity, parasitism, fecundity a population individually identified red deer (Cervus elaphus). Using path analysis, investigated whether costs lactation terms downstream were mediated by changes strongyle nematode count mucosal antibody levels. Lactating females exhibited counts, which turn associated with substantially decreased fitness following year overwinter survival, calf weight, parturition date. This study offers observational evidence for regulation multiple trade-offs, supporting role as an important mediating factor mammal populations.

Language: Английский

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Ornaments are equally informative in male and female birds

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 13(1)

Published: Oct. 7, 2022

Abstract Female ornaments are often reduced, male-like traits. Although these were long perceived as non-functional, it is now broadly accepted that female can be adaptive. However, unclear whether this common in females males, and fulfil similar signalling roles. Here, we apply a bivariate meta-analysis to large dataset of mutually ornamented birds. As expected, ornament expression tends reduced compared males. equally strongly associated with indicators condition aspects reproductive success both sexes, regardless the degree sexual dimorphism. Thus, show here paired comparison within-and-across species, birds provide information sexes: more individuals better achieve higher success. limited by their correlational nature, outcomes imply could widely function manner male ornaments.

Language: Английский

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