Home Range and Parasite Diversity in Mammals

Abstract

Parasite diversity among and within host species is not solely the result of random processes; rather, it depends on a suite of physiological or ecological host traits as well as environmental factors. Because most macroparasites exhibit life cycles that include infective stages off the definitive host and that rely on host movements for dissemination, parasite acquisition by a host depends largely on hosts being present in a given area where and when infective stages are present. Consequently, host ranging pattern may have a major influence on parasite diversity. Larger home range size is hypothesized to be associated with higher parasite species richness because hosts living in large home ranges should encounter a greater diversity of habitats and other host individuals, which in turn may favor infection by a great diversity of parasite species. By focusing on helminths in wild mammals, we show that an increase in home range area does not lead to an increase in parasite diversity in ungulates and, moreover, that it is associated with a decrease in parasite species richness in carnivores and in glires (rodents and lagomorphs). We also show that home range size is negatively correlated with host density in mammals after correcting both variables for host body mass. We discuss these results from an epidemiological perspective.

The helminth parasites of two sympatric species of the genus Apodemus (Rodentia, Muridae) from south-eastern Slovakia

“…feeding ecology, habitat preferences, host age and sex, richness of host species in the area) and abiotic (e.g. humidity, temperature) factors can affect the spatial and temporal distribution of parasite species richness by influencing the survival and/or transmission of parasites (Behnke et al 1999, Abu-Madi et al 2000, Bordes et al 2009). The trophic niches of A. agrarius and A. flavicollis are similar.…”

“…Interestingly, Bordes et al (2009), by focusing on helminths in wild mammals, found a negative correlation between home range area and parasite species richness in carnivores and glires. Male home ranges generally exceed those of females in small-mammal populations, particularly during the breeding season (e.g.…”

Estimating Dynamic Risk Factors for Pathogen Transmission Using Community-Level Bird Census Data at the Wildlife/Domestic Interface

“…with other hosts will influence pathogen transmission (Morgan et al 2006, Bordes et al 2009). Intra-and inter-species mixing, the presence or absence of particular species, and the proportion of juveniles in the population vary seasonally for waterfowl and are important influences on the ecology of infectious diseases (Wallensten et al 2007).…”

The effect of temporal sampling regime on the characterization of home range for female boreal woodland caribou (Rangifer tarandus caribou) in Labrador, Canada

“…data). Maintaining large home ranges and low densities is a life history strategy that allows caribou to avoid detection and predation by wolves and other predators (Bergerud, 1992), and limit exposure to parasites which influence body condition and fitness (Bordes et al, 2009;Gunn & Irvine, 2003). Fragmentation and direct or effective loss of available habitat as a result of anthropogenic change has been linked to range loss and caribou extirpation (e.g., Schaefer, 2003;Vors et al, 2007).…”