Network structure and parasite transmission in a group living lizard, the gidgee skink, Egernia stokesii

Godfrey, Stephanie S.; Bull, C. Michael; James, Richard; Murray, Kris A.

doi:10.1007/s00265-009-0730-9

Cited by 168 publications

(150 citation statements)

References 52 publications

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“…Clearly, our approach will be most applicable when there are spatiallydiscrete peaks in indirect/environmental transmission risk (the latrines in our study system being a good example). However, while this may be somewhat limiting, there are numerous other examples where such peaks in environmental transmission might occur from shared refuge use (Godfrey et al, 2009;Leu et al, 2010) through to resource patches such as watering holes (Paull et al, 2012;Barasona et al, 2014) or anthropogenic food sources (Becker et al, 2015). In addition, the importance of indirect transmission will depend on other aspects of the system, such as the ability of the pathogen to persist in the environment and the relative likelihood of transmission occurring via different routes (Webster et al, 2017).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantifying direct and indirect contacts for the potential transmission of infection between species using a multilayer contact network

Silk

Drewe

Delahay

et al. 2018

Behav.

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Detecting opportunities for between-species transmission of pathogens can be challenging, particularly if rare behaviours or environmental transmission are involved. We present a multilayer network framework to quantify transmission potential in multi-host systems, incorporating environmental transmission, by using empirical data on direct and indirect contacts between European badgers Meles meles and domestic cattle. We identify that indirect contacts via the environment at badger latrines on pasture are likely to be important for transmission within badger populations and between badgers and cattle. We also find a positive correlation between the role of individual badgers within the badger social network, and their role in the overall badger-cattle-environment network, suggesting that the same behavioural traits contribute to the role of individual badgers in within-and between-species transmission. These findings have implications for disease management interventions in this system, and our novel network approach can provide general insights into transmission in other multi-host disease systems.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantifying direct and indirect contacts for the potential transmission of infection between species using a multilayer contact network

Silk

Drewe

Delahay

et al. 2018

Behav.

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“…[58]). Alternatively, as a form of biological control to prevent spread of pests [59], invasive species [60] or pathogens [61], habitat patches could be removed when connectivity is detrimental. The NLP black bear population is subjected to two factors that could impact connectivity: intensive harvest and landscape modification.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Detecting black bear source–sink dynamics using individual-based genetic graphs

et al. 2016

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Source-sink dynamics affects population connectivity, spatial genetic structure and population viability for many species. We introduce a novel approach that uses individual-based genetic graphs to identify source-sink areas within a continuously distributed population of black bears (Ursus americanus) in the northern lower peninsula (NLP) of Michigan, USA. Black bear harvest samples (n ¼ 569, from 2002, 2006 and 2010) were genotyped at 12 microsatellite loci and locations were compared across years to identify areas of consistent occupancy over time. We compared graph metrics estimated for a genetic model with metrics from 10 ecological models to identify ecological factors that were associated with sources and sinks. We identified 62 source nodes, 16 of which represent important source areas (net flux . 0.7) and 79 sink nodes. Source strength was significantly correlated with bear local harvest density (a proxy for bear density) and habitat suitability. Additionally, resampling simulations showed our approach is robust to potential sampling bias from uneven sample dispersion. Findings demonstrate black bears in the NLP exhibit asymmetric gene flow, and individual-based genetic graphs can characterize source-sink dynamics in continuously distributed species in the absence of discrete habitat patches. Our findings warrant consideration of undetected source-sink dynamics and their implications on harvest management of game species.

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“…In the case of lizards, another method of faecal oral transmission can occur as one individual inspects the scats of another, using tongue flicks to detect olfactory signals, and potentially ingesting infective stages of the parasite on the surface of the scat (Fenner et al, 2011). We have already demonstrated that more socially connected lizards are at higher risk of infection of gut nematodes (Godfrey et al, 2009) and bacteria (Bull et al, 2012). The spatial pattern of scat deposition of sleepy lizards could determine the realm of infectivity of individual lizards.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Scatting behaviour of the sleepy lizard,Tiliqua rugosa

Fenner

Majoros

Bull

2015

Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia

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The use of chemical signals for communication is wide spread in many animal taxa.Squamates in particular have a highly developed vomeronasal system and investigate chemical signals through tongue flicking. In some lizard species, individuals have been shown to be able use chemical signals, including those from faeces (scats), for discriminating between kin and conspecifics and members and non-members of social groups. The Australia scincid lineage Egernia, is one group that has an unusually high number of species reported to produce scat piles close to their refuge sights. In this paper we explore the scatting behaviour of the sleepy lizard, Tiliqua rugosa, a member of the Egernia lineage to determine whether there is any evidence of an aggregated deposition pattern of scats by this lizard, similar to other member species in the lineage. We found that unlike related species that appear to use scat piles as social markers, sleepy lizards do not deposit scats in any systematic latrine system, or in piles to indicate occupancy of an area. Rather, they appear to be scatting haphazardly inside their home range. A conclusion from this comparison is that 2 scat piling in the Egernia lineage is associated more with refuge defence than with social aggregation.

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Network structure and parasite transmission in a group living lizard, the gidgee skink, Egernia stokesii

Cited by 168 publications

References 52 publications

Quantifying direct and indirect contacts for the potential transmission of infection between species using a multilayer contact network

Quantifying direct and indirect contacts for the potential transmission of infection between species using a multilayer contact network

Detecting black bear source–sink dynamics using individual-based genetic graphs

Scatting behaviour of the sleepy lizard,Tiliqua rugosa

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