Resetting our expectations for parasites and their effects on species interactions: a meta‐analysis

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 26(1), P. 184 - 199

Published: Nov. 6, 2022

Abstract Despite the ubiquitous nature of parasitism, how parasitism alters outcome host–species interactions such as competition, mutualism and predation remains unknown. Using a phylogenetically informed meta‐analysis 154 studies, we examined mean variance in outcomes species differed between parasitized non‐parasitized hosts. Overall, did not significantly affect or interaction outcomes, nor shared evolutionary histories hosts parasites have an effect. Instead, there was considerable variation ranging from strongly detrimental to beneficial for infected Trophically‐transmitted increased negative effects predation, decreased interspecific competition heterospecifics, respectively, had particularly strong on host freshwater marine habitats, yet were terrestrial environments. Our results illuminate diverse ways which modify critical linkages ecological networks, implying that whether cumulative are considered depends only their but also many other experience.

Language: Английский

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North American wintering mallards infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza show few signs of altered local or migratory movements

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 13(1)

Published: Sept. 2, 2023

Avian influenza viruses pose a threat to wildlife and livestock health. The emergence of highly pathogenic avian (HPAI) in wild birds poultry North America late 2021 was the first such outbreak since 2015 largest date. Despite its prominence economic impacts, we know relatively little about how HPAI spreads bird populations. In January 2022, captured 43 mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) Tennessee, USA, 11 which were actively infected with HPAI. These confirmed detections H5N1 clade 2.3.4.4b Mississippi Flyway. We compared movement patterns uninfected found no clear differences; moved just as much during winter, migrated slightly earlier, similar distances birds. Infected also contacted shared space while on their wintering grounds, suggesting ongoing transmission virus. differences body condition or survival rates between Together, these results show that infection unrelated behavior at this location winter; if are other seasons continues evolve, they suggest could contribute maintenance dispersal America. Further research more species across larger geographic areas multiple would help clarify potential impacts waterfowl emerging disease continental scales, species, potentially domestic animals.

Language: Английский

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Fine‐scale spatial patterns of wildlife disease are common and understudied

Functional Ecology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 36(1), P. 214 - 225

Published: Oct. 15, 2021

Abstract All parasites are heterogeneous in space, yet little is known about the prevalence and scale of this spatial variation, particularly wild animal systems. To address question, we sought to identify examine dependence wildlife disease across a wide range Conducting broad literature search, collated 31 datasets featuring 89 replicates 71 unique host–parasite combinations, only 51% which had previously been used test hypotheses. We analysed these for within standardised modelling framework using Bayesian linear models, then meta‐analysed results generalised determinants magnitude autocorrelation. detected autocorrelation 48/89 model (54%) 21/31 (68%), spread all groups. Even some very small study areas (under 0.01 km 2 ) exhibited substantial variation. Despite common manifestation our meta‐analysis was unable host‐, parasite‐, or sampling‐level heterogeneity Parasites transmission modes easily detectable patterns, implying that structured contact networks susceptibility effects potentially as important spatially structuring environmental drivers efficiency. Our findings demonstrate fine‐scale patterns infection manifest frequently systems, many studies able investigate them—whether not original aim varying processes. Given widespread nature findings, should more record analyse data, facilitating development testing hypotheses ecology. Ultimately, may pave way an priori predictive variation novel A free Plain Language Summary can be found Supporting Information article.

Language: Английский

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From flames to inflammation: how wildfires affect patterns of wildlife disease

Fire Ecology, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 17(1)

Published: Sept. 23, 2021

Abstract Background Fire strongly affects animals’ behavior, population dynamics, and environmental surroundings, which in turn are likely to affect their immune systems exposure pathogens. However, little work has yet been conducted on the effects of wildfires wildlife disease. This research gap is rapidly growing importance because becoming globally more common severe, with unknown impacts disease unclear implications for livestock human health future. Results Here, we discussed how could influence susceptibility infection wild animals, potential consequences ecology public health. In our framework, outlined habitat loss degradation caused by fire defenses, behavioral demographic responses pathogen exposure, spread, maintenance. We identified relative unknowns that might dynamics unpredictable ways (e.g., through altered community composition free-living parasites). Finally, avenues future investigations fire-disease links. Conclusions hope this review will stimulate much-needed role wildfire influencing disease, providing an important source information wake other natural disasters, encouraging further integration fields ecology.

Language: Английский

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A meta-analysis of impacts of immune response and infection on oxidative status in vertebrates

Conservation Physiology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 10(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2022

Abstract Inferring from patterns observed in biomedical research, ecoimmunological theory predicts that oxidative stress is a ubiquitous physiological cost contributes to generating variation immune function between individuals or species. This prediction is, however, often challenged by empirical studies testing the relationship response infection and status markers. points out importance of combining ecological immunology ecology further our understanding proximate causes fitness consequences individual health, adaptability natural anthropogenic environmental changes. I reviewed evidence performed phylogenetic meta-analyses changes markers owing either injection an antigen captive free-living vertebrates (141 studies, 1262 effect sizes, 97 species). The dataset was dominated on fish, birds mammals, which provided 95.8% sizes. Both parasite exposure were associated with status. There significant effects taxonomic class experimental environment (captivity vs. wild). In contrast my predictions, age category (young adult), study design (correlational experimental) proxies pace life (clutch size, litter body mass; for mammals only) negligible this dataset. Several methodological aspects (type immunostimulant, laboratory assay, tissue analysed) showed both strength direction effect. My results suggest alterations are widespread consequence across vertebrates. However, work also identified heterogeneity suggests does not necessarily result stress. Finally, identifies caveats might be relevant interpretation comparability application conservation programs.

Language: Английский

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The energetic costs of sub‐lethal helminth parasites in mammals: a meta‐analysis

Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 97(5), P. 1886 - 1907

Published: June 9, 2022

ABSTRACT Parasites, by definition, have a negative effect on their host. However, in wild mammal health and conservation research, sub‐lethal infections are commonly assumed to negligible effects unless parasites present overwhelming numbers. Here, we propose definition for host mammals that includes of the host's capacity adapt environment maintain homeostasis. We synthesized growing number studies helminth assess evidence relative magnitude infection across taxa based this expanded definition. Specifically, develop apply framework organizing disparate metrics parasite body condition according impact an animal's energetic condition, defined as burden pathogens physiological behavioural functions relate directly fitness. Applying within global meta‐analysis wild, laboratory domestic hosts produced 142 peer‐reviewed documenting 599 infection‐condition effects. Analysing these data multiple working hypotheses allowed us evaluate weighted contribution methodological (study design, sampling protocol, quantification methods) biological (phylogenetic relationships host/parasite life history) moderators variation found consistently strong taxonomic groups, with unusually low heterogeneity sizes when compared other ecological meta‐analyses. Observed size was significantly lower cross‐sectional (i.e. observational investigated sub‐set population at single point time), most prevalent methodology. Furthermore, opportunistic led weaker proactive sampling. In model group, carnivores not significant. method included, it explained substantial inter‐study variance; showing strongly significant while detected only weak, non‐significant effect. This may partly underlie previous assumptions do health. recommend future adopt assessing wildlife provide guidelines selection research protocols, proxies, relating

Language: Английский

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Advances in understanding bat infection dynamics across biological scales

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 291(2018)

Published: March 6, 2024

Over the past two decades, research on bat-associated microbes such as viruses, bacteria and fungi has dramatically increased. Here, we synthesize themes from a conference symposium focused advances in of bats their microbes, including physiological, immunological, ecological epidemiological that improved our understanding bat infection dynamics at multiple biological scales. We first present metrics for measuring individual responses to challenges associated with using these metrics. next discuss within populations same species, before introducing complexities arise multi-species communities bats, humans and/or livestock. Finally, outline critical gaps opportunities future interdisciplinary work topics involving microbes.

Language: Английский

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Parasite infection leads to widespread glucocorticoid hormone increases in vertebrate hosts: A meta‐analysis

Journal of Animal Ecology, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 89(2), P. 519 - 529

Published: Oct. 17, 2019

Abstract Parasites and pathogens (hereafter parasites) commonly challenge organisms, but the extent to which their infections are physiologically stressful hosts remains unclear. Importantly, vertebrate hormones, glucocorticoids (GCs), have been reported increase, decrease or show no alterations stemming from infections, challenging generality of parasite‐associated GC responses motivating a search for important moderator variables. We undertook first meta‐analysis changes in GCs following experimental infection with parasites, extracting 146 effect sizes 42 studies involving 32 host parasite species test general patterns infection, as well influence moderators. Overall, increased relative preliminary control levels when single largest repeated measures were examined, suggesting that parasites can be thought generally physiological stressors by elevating GCs. When all included along sampling time post‐infection (tPI), still had positive on However, strength did not relate consistently tPI, illustrating temporal differences during course among taxa (e.g. arthropod vs. bacterial infections). Other variables examined responses. Studies broadening range taxa, critical windows, would aid our understanding variation stress response its consequences fitness both parasites.

Language: Английский

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Avian influenza antibody prevalence increases with mercury contamination in wild waterfowl

Proceedings of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 289(1982)

Published: Sept. 7, 2022

Environmental contamination is widespread and can negatively impact wildlife health. Some contaminants, including heavy metals, have immunosuppressive effects, but prior studies rarely measured disease simultaneously, which limits our understanding of how contaminants pathogens interact to influence Here, we mercury concentrations, influenza infection, antibodies body condition in 749 individuals from 11 species wild ducks overwintering California. We found that the odds infection increased more than fivefold across observed range blood while accounting for species, age, sex date. Influenza prevalence was also higher with average concentrations. detected no relationship between fat content. This positive concentrations migratory waterfowl suggests immunotoxic effects could promote spread avian along flyways, especially if has minimal on bird health mobility. More generally, these results show environmental extend beyond geographical area itself by altering infectious diseases highly mobile hosts.

Language: Английский

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Parasite prevalence is determined by infection state- and risk-dependent dispersal of the host

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 379(1907)

Published: June 24, 2024

The spread of parasites and the emergence disease are currently threatening global biodiversity human welfare. To address this threat, we need to better understand those factors that determine parasite persistence prevalence. It is known dispersal central spatial dynamics host–parasite systems. Yet past studies have typically assumed a species-level constant, despite growing body empirical evidence varies with ecological context, including risk infection aspects host state such as status (parasite-dependent dispersal; PDD). Here, develop metapopulation model how different forms PDD shape prevalence directly transmitted parasite. We show increasing rate can increase, decrease or cause non-monotonic change in regional prevalence, depending on type characteristics system (transmission rate, virulence, mortality). This result contrasts previous parasite-independent which concluded increases rate. argue accounting for responses necessary complete understanding predicting will respond changes alteration landscape connectivity. article part theme issue ‘Diversity-dependence dispersal: interspecific interactions dynamics’.

Language: Английский

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