Parasite load and seasonal migration in red deer

Mysterud, Atle; Qviller, Lars; Meisingset, Erling L.; Viljugrein, Hildegunn

doi:10.1007/s00442-015-3465-5

Cited by 55 publications

(48 citation statements)

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“…, Mysterud et al. ). Return migrations to lower elevations from summer to winter ranges are mainly related to avoiding adverse weather conditions depleting forage resources and restricting movements (Cagnacci et al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For large herbivores, migratory movements are commonly undertaken in response to spatiotemporal forage patterns (Fryxell 1991). Specifically, the forage maturation hypothesis (FMH) predicts that migrants benefit from adaptive spring movements across EDs to gain prolonged access to high-quality forage on summer ranges (Fryxell andSinclair 1988, Hebblewhite et al 2008), and to reduce predation risk (Fryxell and Sinclair 1988) or parasite loads (Folstad et al 1991, Mysterud et al 2016. Return migrations to lower elevations from summer to winter ranges are mainly related to avoiding adverse weather conditions depleting forage resources and restricting movements (Cagnacci et al 2011).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Migration in geographic and ecological space by a large herbivore

Peters

Hebblewhite

Mysterud

et al. 2017

Ecological Monographs

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Partial migration, when only part of the population migrates seasonally while the other part remains resident on the shared range, is the most common form of migration in ungulates. Migration is often defined by spatial separation of seasonal ranges and consequently, classification of individuals as migrants or residents is usually only based on geographic criteria. However, the underlying mechanism for migration is hypothesized to be movement in response to spatiotemporal resource variability and thus, migrants are assumed to travel an “ecological distance” (ED) or shift their realized ecological niches. While ecological and geographic distances should be related, their relationship may depend on landscape heterogeneity. Here, we tested the utility of ecological niche theory to both classify migratory individuals and to understand the underlying ecological factors for migratory behavior. We developed an integrative approach combining measures in geographic and ecological niche space and used this to classify and explain migratory behavior of 71 annual roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) movement trajectories in five European study areas. First, to assess the utility of the ED concept for classifying migratory behavior, we tested whether roe deer sought the same ecological conditions year‐round or moved to different ecological conditions by measuring the annual ED travelled and the seasonal niche overlap using multivariate statistics. Comparing methods to classify migrants and residents based on geographic and ecological niche space, we found that migratory roe deer switched between seasons both in geographic and in ecological dimensions. Second, we tested which seasonal ecological factors separated resident from migrant niches using discriminant analysis and which broad‐scale determinants (e.g., spatiotemporal forage variation and population density) predicted migration probability using generalized linear models. Our results indicated that factors describing forage and topographic variability discriminated seasonal migrant from resident niches. Determinants for predicting migration probability included the temporal variation (seasonality) and also the spatial variability of forage patches. Last, we also found suggestive evidence for a positive relationship between population density and migration probability. By applying the ecological niche concept to the study of partial migration in ungulates, our work underlines that partial migration is a form of behavioral plasticity.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Migration in geographic and ecological space by a large herbivore

Peters

Hebblewhite

Mysterud

et al. 2017

Ecological Monographs

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“…, Mysterud et al. ). To our knowledge, only two other species of denning carnivores, the European badger ( Meles meles ; Butler and Roper ) and black‐footed ferret ( Mustela nigripes ; Matchett et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The majority of studies demonstrating impacts of ectoparasites have focused on rodents (Hawlena et al 2006, Hillegass et al 2010, Zwolak et al 2013, Archer et al 2016, Sponchiado et al 2017) and ungulates (Mooring and Samuel 1999, Vor et al 2010, Paakkonen et al 2014, Mysterud et al 2016. To our knowledge, only two other species of denning carnivores, the European badger (Meles meles; Butler and Roper 1996) and black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes; Matchett et al 2010), have been investigated using an experimental manipulation of ectoparasites.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ectoparasite burden influences the denning behavior of a small desert carnivore

2019

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Quantifying the impacts of parasitism on a host can be arduous and is generally understudied for ectoparasites, with known works being either laboratory‐focused, correlational‐based, or only focusing on a few species and spatial extents. Many mammalian species have evolved the modality of denning behavior, a lifestyle that can lead to higher ectoparasite burden, and it has been posited that animals may alter their denning behavior in an attempt to reduce exposure to ectoparasites. We conducted a test of the ectoparasite release hypothesis for kit foxes (Vulpes macrotis) and fleas in the Great Basin Desert of the western United States, a hypothesis that has remained relatively untested for over half a century. We experimentally administered a flea reduction treatment to a subset of kit foxes. We then measured and compared the number of unique den usages and residency time across treatment and control foxes (no flea reduction treatment) while accounting for other factors known to influence denning behavior. Foxes treated with the flea medication reduced the number of unique dens and increased their residency times at dens. All kit foxes continued to use multiple dens on the landscape, suggesting several factors in addition to flea burden influence denning behavior. Our results confirm the long‐dormant ectoparasite release hypothesis and suggest ectoparasites may shape the behavior of burrowing vertebrates to a greater extent than previously recognized.

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“…Between intervals of habitat use, harsh winters and long absences of hosts could eliminate most parasites, resulting in nearly disease-free conditions by the time hosts return. Support for migratory escape has been observed for migratory ungulates, including caribou (Rangifer tarandus), red deer (Cervus elaphus) and elk, which annually escape infestation from warble flies and roundworms, ticks and liver flukes (respectively; [89][90][91][92][93]). Second, long-distance migration can lower parasite prevalence by removing infected animals from the population (i.e.…”

Section: Mechanisms By Which Animal Migrations Alter Host -Pathogen Imentioning

confidence: 99%

Responses of migratory species and their pathogens to supplemental feeding

Satterfield

Marra

Sillett

et al. 2018

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B

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Migratory animals undergo seasonal and often spectacular movements and perform crucial ecosystem services. In response to anthropogenic changes, including food subsidies, some migratory animals are now migrating shorter distances or halting migration altogether and forming resident populations. Recent studies suggest that shifts in migratory behaviour can alter the risk of infection for wildlife. Although migration is commonly assumed to enhance pathogen spread, for many species, migration has the opposite effect of lowering infection risk, if animals escape from habitats where pathogen stages have accumulated or if strenuous journeys cull infected hosts. Here, we summarize responses of migratory species to supplemental feeding and review modelling and empirical work that provides support for mechanisms through which resource-induced changes in migration can alter pathogen transmission. In particular, we focus on the well-studied example of monarch butterflies and their protozoan parasites in North America. We also identify areas for future research, including combining new technologies for tracking animal movements with pathogen surveillance and exploring potential evolutionary responses of hosts and pathogens to changing movement patterns. Given that many migratory animals harbour pathogens of conservation concern and zoonotic potential, studies that document ongoing shifts in migratory behaviour and infection risk are vitally needed.This article is part of the theme issue 'Anthropogenic resource subsidies and host-parasite dynamics in wildlife'.

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Parasite load and seasonal migration in red deer

Cited by 55 publications

References 50 publications

Migration in geographic and ecological space by a large herbivore

Migration in geographic and ecological space by a large herbivore

Ectoparasite burden influences the denning behavior of a small desert carnivore

Responses of migratory species and their pathogens to supplemental feeding

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