Season and prey identity mediate the effect of predators on parasites in rodents: a test of the healthy herds hypothesis

Richards, Robert J.; Conner, L. Mike; Morris, Gail; Drake, John M.; Ezenwa, Vanessa O.

doi:10.1007/s00442-022-05284-8

Cited by 3 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 71 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

Section: Selective Predationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A similar pattern has been found in hispid cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus), which can grow too large for most avian predators. When large terrestrial predators are excluded, cotton rat size structure shifts toward larger rats, with no change in rat density; this shift is followed by an increase in the abundance of gastrointestinal nematodes that primarily infect larger rats (Richards et al, 2023). This type of selective predation predator spreading requires a clear predation preference (e.g., due to innate or learned behavioral preferences and/or biomechanics) that is negatively correlated with the infection rates in prey (as in the red curves in Figure 3).…”

Section: S Elec Tive Predati Onmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Unhealthy herds and the predator–spreader: Understanding when predation increases disease incidence and prevalence

Richards

Elderd

Duffy

2023

Ecology and Evolution

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Disease ecologists now recognize the limitation behind examining host-parasite interactions in isolation: community members-especially predators-dramatically affect host-parasite dynamics. Although the initial paradigm was that predation should reduce disease in prey populations ("healthy herds hypothesis"), researchers have realized that predators sometimes increase disease in their prey. These "predatorspreaders" are now recognized as critical to disease dynamics, but empirical research on the topic remains fragmented. In a narrow sense, a "predator-spreader" would be defined as a predator that mechanically spreads parasites via feeding. However, predators affect their prey and, subsequently, disease transmission in many other ways such as altering prey population structure, behavior, and physiology. We review the existing evidence for these mechanisms and provide heuristics that incorporate features of the host, predator, parasite, and environment to understand whether or not a predator is likely to be a predator-spreader. We also provide guidance for targeted study of each mechanism and quantifying the effects of predators on parasitism in a way that yields more general insights into the factors that promote predator spreading. We aim to offer a better understanding of this important and underappreciated interaction and a path toward being able to predict how changes in predation will influence parasite dynamics.

show abstract

Section: Selective Predationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: S Elec Tive Predati Onmentioning

confidence: 99%

Unhealthy herds and the predator–spreader: Understanding when predation increases disease incidence and prevalence

Richards

Elderd

Duffy

2023

Ecology and Evolution

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Growing evidence suggests that parasites mediate trophic interactions [ 41 , 42 ] and that predators regulate host–parasite interactions [ 53 , 54 ]. Yet, the interplay of those dynamics remains understudied, particularly when parasites have complex life cycles [ 16 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Parasite-mediated predation determines infection in a complex predator–prey–parasite system

Hijar Islas,

Milne,

Eizaguirre

et al. 2024

Proc. R. Soc. B.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The interplay of host–parasite and predator–prey interactions is critical in ecological dynamics because both predators and parasites can regulate communities. But what is the prevalence of infected prey and predators when a parasite is transmitted through trophic interactions considering stochastic demographic changes? Here, we modelled and analysed a complex predator–prey–parasite system, where parasites are transmitted from prey to predators. We varied parasite virulence and infection probabilities to investigate how those evolutionary factors determine species’ coexistence and populations’ composition. Our results show that parasite species go extinct when the infection probabilities of either host are small and that success in infecting the final host is more critical for the survival of the parasite. While our stochastic simulations are consistent with deterministic predictions, stochasticity plays an important role in the border regions between coexistence and extinction. As expected, the proportion of infected individuals increases with the infection probabilities. Interestingly, the relative abundances of infected and uninfected individuals can have opposite orders in the intermediate and final host populations. This counterintuitive observation shows that the interplay of direct and indirect parasite effects is a common driver of the prevalence of infection in a complex system.

show abstract

“…This potential role of predation on rodent success highlights the need for future research to also investigate predator species recovery at abandoned mine sites more fully (Richards et al. 2023).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Male rodents have larger territories and overlapping female ranges, and their higher movement rates expose them to increased predation risk compared to females (Bond & Wolff 1999). This potential role of predation on rodent success highlights the need for future research to also investigate predator species recovery at abandoned mine sites more fully (Richards et al 2023).…”

Section: Natural Recovery Succession At Mine Sitesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recovery of small rodents from open‐pit marble mining: effects on communities, populations, and individuals

WU,

WANG,

WANG

et al. 2024

Integr. Zool.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Mining can significantly alter landscapes, impacting wildlife and ecosystem functionality. Natural recovery in open‐pit mines is vital for habitat restoration and ecosystem re‐establishment, although few empirical studies have examined this process. Here, we assessed temporal and spatial responses of small rodents at the community, population, and individual levels during natural mine recovery. We examined the abundance, reproductive potential, and individual health of small rodents at active mines and at former mine sites left to recover naturally for approx. 10 and 20 years. We also assessed the effects of disturbance on rodent recovery processes at three distances from the mine boundary. Rodent numbers peaked after 10–13 years of recovery and exhibited the strongest male bias in the sex ratio. The Chinese white‐bellied rat (Niviventer confucianus) was the most abundant species, achieving its highest population abundance at sites abandoned for 10–13 years and thriving at locations closer to the mine boundary. Only Chevrier's field mouse exhibited morphological responses to the mine recovery category. Ectoparasite load was unaffected by mine or distance‐disturbance categories. Both Chevrier's field mouse (Apodemus chevrieri) and the South China field mouse (Apodemus draco) were affected significantly by vegetation layer cover during recovery succession. Our study highlights the complexities of ecological succession, with a peak in abundance as pioneer communities transition toward a climax seral stage. Careful prior planning and active site management are necessary to optimize abandoned mine recovery. Efforts to accelerate mine recovery through technical restoration should promote conditions that initiate and perpetuate the establishment and succession of wildlife assemblages.

show abstract

Season and prey identity mediate the effect of predators on parasites in rodents: a test of the healthy herds hypothesis

Cited by 3 publications

References 71 publications

Unhealthy herds and the predator–spreader: Understanding when predation increases disease incidence and prevalence

Unhealthy herds and the predator–spreader: Understanding when predation increases disease incidence and prevalence

Parasite-mediated predation determines infection in a complex predator–prey–parasite system

Recovery of small rodents from open‐pit marble mining: effects on communities, populations, and individuals

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About