Cross‐continental comparison of parasite communities in a wide‐ranging carnivore suggests associations with prey diversity and host density
Abstract Parasites are integral to ecosystem functioning yet often overlooked. Improved understanding of host–parasite associations is important, particularly for wide‐ranging species for which host range shifts and climate change could alter host–parasite interactions and their effects on ecosystem...
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ftdoajarticles:oai:doaj.org/article:344aed6374d241a6ad22687e7549b5f5 2023-05-15T15:50:05+02:00 Cross‐continental comparison of parasite communities in a wide‐ranging carnivore suggests associations with prey diversity and host density Astrid V. Stronen Barbara Molnar Paolo Ciucci Chris T. Darimont Lorenza Grottoli Paul C. Paquet Tim Sallows Judit E. G. Smits Heather M. Bryan 2021-08-01T00:00:00Z https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.7837 https://doaj.org/article/344aed6374d241a6ad22687e7549b5f5 EN eng Wiley https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.7837 https://doaj.org/toc/2045-7758 2045-7758 doi:10.1002/ece3.7837 https://doaj.org/article/344aed6374d241a6ad22687e7549b5f5 Ecology and Evolution, Vol 11, Iss 15, Pp 10338-10352 (2021) Canis lupus dietary diversity direct life cycle indirect life cycle noninvasive monitoring population density Ecology QH540-549.5 article 2021 ftdoajarticles https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.7837 2022-12-31T07:58:35Z Abstract Parasites are integral to ecosystem functioning yet often overlooked. Improved understanding of host–parasite associations is important, particularly for wide‐ranging species for which host range shifts and climate change could alter host–parasite interactions and their effects on ecosystem function. Among the most widely distributed mammals with diverse diets, gray wolves (Canis lupus) host parasites that are transmitted among canids and via prey species. Wolf–parasite associations may therefore influence the population dynamics and ecological functions of both wolves and their prey. Our goal was to identify large‐scale processes that shape host–parasite interactions across populations, with the wolf as a model organism. By compiling data from various studies, we examined the fecal prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in six wolf populations from two continents in relation to wolf density, diet diversity, and other ecological conditions. As expected, we found that the fecal prevalence of parasites transmitted directly to wolves via contact with other canids or their excreta was positively associated with wolf density. Contrary to our expectations, the fecal prevalence of parasites transmitted via prey was negatively associated with prey diversity. We also found that parasite communities reflected landscape characteristics and specific prey items available to wolves. Several parasite taxa identified in this study, including hookworms and coccidian protozoans, can cause morbidity and mortality in canids, especially in pups, or in combination with other stressors. The density–prevalence relationship for parasites with simple life cycles may reflect a regulatory role of gastrointestinal parasites on wolf populations. Our result that fecal prevalence of parasites was lower in wolves with more diverse diets could provide insight into the mechanisms by which biodiversity may regulate disease. A diverse suite of predator–prey interactions could regulate the effects of parasitism on prey populations and ... Article in Journal/Newspaper Canis lupus Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles Ecology and Evolution 11 15 10338 10352 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Directory of Open Access Journals: DOAJ Articles |
op_collection_id |
ftdoajarticles |
language |
English |
topic |
Canis lupus dietary diversity direct life cycle indirect life cycle noninvasive monitoring population density Ecology QH540-549.5 |
spellingShingle |
Canis lupus dietary diversity direct life cycle indirect life cycle noninvasive monitoring population density Ecology QH540-549.5 Astrid V. Stronen Barbara Molnar Paolo Ciucci Chris T. Darimont Lorenza Grottoli Paul C. Paquet Tim Sallows Judit E. G. Smits Heather M. Bryan Cross‐continental comparison of parasite communities in a wide‐ranging carnivore suggests associations with prey diversity and host density |
topic_facet |
Canis lupus dietary diversity direct life cycle indirect life cycle noninvasive monitoring population density Ecology QH540-549.5 |
description |
Abstract Parasites are integral to ecosystem functioning yet often overlooked. Improved understanding of host–parasite associations is important, particularly for wide‐ranging species for which host range shifts and climate change could alter host–parasite interactions and their effects on ecosystem function. Among the most widely distributed mammals with diverse diets, gray wolves (Canis lupus) host parasites that are transmitted among canids and via prey species. Wolf–parasite associations may therefore influence the population dynamics and ecological functions of both wolves and their prey. Our goal was to identify large‐scale processes that shape host–parasite interactions across populations, with the wolf as a model organism. By compiling data from various studies, we examined the fecal prevalence of gastrointestinal parasites in six wolf populations from two continents in relation to wolf density, diet diversity, and other ecological conditions. As expected, we found that the fecal prevalence of parasites transmitted directly to wolves via contact with other canids or their excreta was positively associated with wolf density. Contrary to our expectations, the fecal prevalence of parasites transmitted via prey was negatively associated with prey diversity. We also found that parasite communities reflected landscape characteristics and specific prey items available to wolves. Several parasite taxa identified in this study, including hookworms and coccidian protozoans, can cause morbidity and mortality in canids, especially in pups, or in combination with other stressors. The density–prevalence relationship for parasites with simple life cycles may reflect a regulatory role of gastrointestinal parasites on wolf populations. Our result that fecal prevalence of parasites was lower in wolves with more diverse diets could provide insight into the mechanisms by which biodiversity may regulate disease. A diverse suite of predator–prey interactions could regulate the effects of parasitism on prey populations and ... |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Astrid V. Stronen Barbara Molnar Paolo Ciucci Chris T. Darimont Lorenza Grottoli Paul C. Paquet Tim Sallows Judit E. G. Smits Heather M. Bryan |
author_facet |
Astrid V. Stronen Barbara Molnar Paolo Ciucci Chris T. Darimont Lorenza Grottoli Paul C. Paquet Tim Sallows Judit E. G. Smits Heather M. Bryan |
author_sort |
Astrid V. Stronen |
title |
Cross‐continental comparison of parasite communities in a wide‐ranging carnivore suggests associations with prey diversity and host density |
title_short |
Cross‐continental comparison of parasite communities in a wide‐ranging carnivore suggests associations with prey diversity and host density |
title_full |
Cross‐continental comparison of parasite communities in a wide‐ranging carnivore suggests associations with prey diversity and host density |
title_fullStr |
Cross‐continental comparison of parasite communities in a wide‐ranging carnivore suggests associations with prey diversity and host density |
title_full_unstemmed |
Cross‐continental comparison of parasite communities in a wide‐ranging carnivore suggests associations with prey diversity and host density |
title_sort |
cross‐continental comparison of parasite communities in a wide‐ranging carnivore suggests associations with prey diversity and host density |
publisher |
Wiley |
publishDate |
2021 |
url |
https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.7837 https://doaj.org/article/344aed6374d241a6ad22687e7549b5f5 |
genre |
Canis lupus |
genre_facet |
Canis lupus |
op_source |
Ecology and Evolution, Vol 11, Iss 15, Pp 10338-10352 (2021) |
op_relation |
https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.7837 https://doaj.org/toc/2045-7758 2045-7758 doi:10.1002/ece3.7837 https://doaj.org/article/344aed6374d241a6ad22687e7549b5f5 |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.7837 |
container_title |
Ecology and Evolution |
container_volume |
11 |
container_issue |
15 |
container_start_page |
10338 |
op_container_end_page |
10352 |
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1766385082615988224 |