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...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2021-08-01
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| Series: | Ecology and Evolution |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.7837 |
| _version_ | 1818739905992327168 |
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| 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 |
| collection | DOAJ |
| 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 mitigate the transmission of infectious agents, including zoonoses, spread via trophic interactions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-18T01:32:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-344aed6374d241a6ad22687e7549b5f5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-7758 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-18T01:32:16Z |
| publishDate | 2021-08-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-344aed6374d241a6ad22687e7549b5f52022-12-21T21:25:33ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582021-08-011115103381035210.1002/ece3.7837Cross‐continental comparison of parasite communities in a wide‐ranging carnivore suggests associations with prey diversity and host densityAstrid V. Stronen0Barbara Molnar1Paolo Ciucci2Chris T. Darimont3Lorenza Grottoli4Paul C. Paquet5Tim Sallows6Judit E. G. Smits7Heather M. Bryan8Department of Biology Biotechnical Faculty University of Ljubljana Ljubljana SloveniaInstitute of Biology University of Neuchâtel Neuchâtel SwitzerlandDepartment of Biology and Biotechnologies University of Rome “La Sapienza” Rome ItalyDepartment of Geography University of Victoria Victoria BC CanadaDepartment of Biology and Biotechnologies University of Rome “La Sapienza” Rome ItalyDepartment of Geography University of Victoria Victoria BC CanadaRiding Mountain National Park Wasagaming MB CanadaDepartment of Ecosystem and Public Health University of Calgary Calgary AB CanadaDepartment of Geography University of Victoria Victoria BC CanadaAbstract 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 mitigate the transmission of infectious agents, including zoonoses, spread via trophic interactions.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.7837Canis lupusdietary diversitydirect life cycleindirect life cyclenoninvasive monitoringpopulation density |
| spellingShingle | 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 Ecology and Evolution Canis lupus dietary diversity direct life cycle indirect life cycle noninvasive monitoring population density |
| title | 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_short | 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 |
| topic | Canis lupus dietary diversity direct life cycle indirect life cycle noninvasive monitoring population density |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.7837 |
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