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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph T. Altobelli
- Department of Zoology University of Otago 340 Great King Street, PO Box 56 Dunedin 9054 New Zealand
| | | | - Stephanie S. Godfrey
- Department of Zoology University of Otago 340 Great King Street, PO Box 56 Dunedin 9054 New Zealand
| | - Phillip J. Bishop
- Department of Zoology University of Otago 340 Great King Street, PO Box 56 Dunedin 9054 New Zealand
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Filion A, Doherty JF, Poulin R, Godfrey SS. Building a comprehensive phylogenetic framework in disease ecology. Trends Parasitol 2022; 38:424-427. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2022.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 01/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Grace MK, Akçakaya HR, Bennett EL, Brooks TM, Heath A, Hedges S, Hilton-Taylor C, Hoffmann M, Hochkirch A, Jenkins R, Keith DA, Long B, Mallon DP, Meijaard E, Milner-Gulland EJ, Rodriguez JP, Stephenson PJ, Stuart SN, Young RP, Acebes P, Alfaro-Shigueto J, Alvarez-Clare S, Andriantsimanarilafy RR, Arbetman M, Azat C, Bacchetta G, Badola R, Barcelos LMD, Barreiros JP, Basak S, Berger DJ, Bhattacharyya S, Bino G, Borges PAV, Boughton RK, Brockmann HJ, Buckley HL, Burfield IJ, Burton J, Camacho-Badani T, Cano-Alonso LS, Carmichael RH, Carrero C, Carroll JP, Catsadorakis G, Chapple DG, Chapron G, Chowdhury GW, Claassens L, Cogoni D, Constantine R, Craig CA, Cunningham AA, Dahal N, Daltry JC, Das GC, Dasgupta N, Davey A, Davies K, Develey P, Elangovan V, Fairclough D, Febbraro MD, Fenu G, Fernandes FM, Fernandez EP, Finucci B, Földesi R, Foley CM, Ford M, Forstner MRJ, García N, Garcia-Sandoval R, Gardner PC, Garibay-Orijel R, Gatan-Balbas M, Gauto I, Ghazi MGU, Godfrey SS, Gollock M, González BA, Grant TD, Gray T, Gregory AJ, van Grunsven RHA, Gryzenhout M, Guernsey NC, Gupta G, Hagen C, Hagen CA, Hall MB, Hallerman E, Hare K, Hart T, Hartdegen R, Harvey-Brown Y, Hatfield R, Hawke T, Hermes C, Hitchmough R, Hoffmann PM, Howarth C, Hudson MA, Hussain SA, Huveneers C, Jacques H, Jorgensen D, Katdare S, Katsis LKD, Kaul R, Kaunda-Arara B, Keith-Diagne L, Kraus DT, de Lima TM, Lindeman K, Linsky J, Louis E, Loy A, Lughadha EN, Mangel JC, Marinari PE, Martin GM, Martinelli G, McGowan PJK, McInnes A, Teles Barbosa Mendes E, Millard MJ, Mirande C, Money D, Monks JM, Morales CL, Mumu NN, Negrao R, Nguyen AH, Niloy MNH, Norbury GL, Nordmeyer C, Norris D, O'Brien M, Oda GA, Orsenigo S, Outerbridge ME, Pasachnik S, Pérez-Jiménez JC, Pike C, Pilkington F, Plumb G, Portela RDCQ, Prohaska A, Quintana MG, Rakotondrasoa EF, Ranglack DH, Rankou H, Rawat AP, Reardon JT, Rheingantz ML, Richter SC, Rivers MC, Rogers LR, da Rosa P, Rose P, Royer E, Ryan C, de Mitcheson YJS, Salmon L, Salvador CH, Samways MJ, Sanjuan T, Souza Dos Santos A, Sasaki H, Schutz E, Scott HA, Scott RM, Serena F, Sharma SP, Shuey JA, Silva CJP, Simaika JP, Smith DR, Spaet JLY, Sultana S, Talukdar BK, Tatayah V, Thomas P, Tringali A, Trinh-Dinh H, Tuboi C, Usmani AA, Vasco-Palacios AM, Vié JC, Virens J, Walker A, Wallace B, Waller LJ, Wang H, Wearn OR, van Weerd M, Weigmann S, Willcox D, Woinarski J, Yong JWH, Young S. Testing a global standard for quantifying species recovery and assessing conservation impact. Conserv Biol 2021; 35:1833-1849. [PMID: 34289517 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Recognizing the imperative to evaluate species recovery and conservation impact, in 2012 the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) called for development of a "Green List of Species" (now the IUCN Green Status of Species). A draft Green Status framework for assessing species' progress toward recovery, published in 2018, proposed 2 separate but interlinked components: a standardized method (i.e., measurement against benchmarks of species' viability, functionality, and preimpact distribution) to determine current species recovery status (herein species recovery score) and application of that method to estimate past and potential future impacts of conservation based on 4 metrics (conservation legacy, conservation dependence, conservation gain, and recovery potential). We tested the framework with 181 species representing diverse taxa, life histories, biomes, and IUCN Red List categories (extinction risk). Based on the observed distribution of species' recovery scores, we propose the following species recovery categories: fully recovered, slightly depleted, moderately depleted, largely depleted, critically depleted, extinct in the wild, and indeterminate. Fifty-nine percent of tested species were considered largely or critically depleted. Although there was a negative relationship between extinction risk and species recovery score, variation was considerable. Some species in lower risk categories were assessed as farther from recovery than those at higher risk. This emphasizes that species recovery is conceptually different from extinction risk and reinforces the utility of the IUCN Green Status of Species to more fully understand species conservation status. Although extinction risk did not predict conservation legacy, conservation dependence, or conservation gain, it was positively correlated with recovery potential. Only 1.7% of tested species were categorized as zero across all 4 of these conservation impact metrics, indicating that conservation has, or will, play a role in improving or maintaining species status for the vast majority of these species. Based on our results, we devised an updated assessment framework that introduces the option of using a dynamic baseline to assess future impacts of conservation over the short term to avoid misleading results which were generated in a small number of cases, and redefines short term as 10 years to better align with conservation planning. These changes are reflected in the IUCN Green Status of Species Standard.
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Affiliation(s)
- Molly K Grace
- Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- IUCN Species Survival Commission, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - H Resit Akçakaya
- IUCN Species Survival Commission, Caracas, Venezuela
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York, USA
| | | | - Thomas M Brooks
- International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), Gland, Switzerland
- World Agroforestry Center (ICRAF), University of the Philippines, Los Baños, Philippines
- Institute for Marine & Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | | | - Simon Hedges
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, New York, USA
- IUCN SSC Asian Elephant Specialist Group, Noida, India
- IUCN SSC Asian Wild Cattle Specialist Group, Chester, UK
| | | | - Michael Hoffmann
- IUCN Species Survival Commission, Caracas, Venezuela
- Conservation Programmes, Zoological Society of London, London, UK
| | - Axel Hochkirch
- Department of Biogeography, Trier University, Trier, Germany
| | | | - David A Keith
- IUCN Species Survival Commission, Caracas, Venezuela
- Centre for Ecosystem Sciences, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, Hurstville, New South Wales, Australia
| | | | - David P Mallon
- Division of Biology and Conservation Ecology, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, UK
- IUCN SSC Antelope Specialist Group, Manchester, UK
| | - Erik Meijaard
- IUCN SSC Wild Pig Specialist Group and Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | | | - Jon Paul Rodriguez
- IUCN Species Survival Commission, Caracas, Venezuela
- Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas, and Provita, Caracas, Venezuela
| | - P J Stephenson
- IUCN SSC Species Monitoring Specialist Group, Gingins, Switzerland
- Laboratory for Conservation Biology, Department of Ecology & Evolution, UNIL - University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Simon N Stuart
- IUCN Species Survival Commission, Caracas, Venezuela
- Synchronicity Earth, London, UK
| | | | - Pablo Acebes
- Centro de Investigación en Biodiversidad y Cambio Global, Departamento de Ecología, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | | | | | | | - Marina Arbetman
- Grupo Ecología de la Polinización, INIBIOMA, Universidad Nacional del Comahue, CONICET, Bariloche, Argentina
| | - Claudio Azat
- Sustainability Research Centre & PhD Programme in Conservation Medicine, Faculty of Life Sciences, Universidad Andres Bello, Santiago, Chile
| | - Gianluigi Bacchetta
- Centre for Conservation of Biodiversity, University of Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | | | - Luís M D Barcelos
- Azorean Biodiversity Group, Centre for Ecology, Evolution, and Environmental Changes, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, University of the Azores, Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal
| | - Joao Pedro Barreiros
- Universidade dos Açores, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e do Ambiente, Rua Capitão João d'Ávila, Angra do Heroísmo, Portugal
| | | | - Danielle J Berger
- School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
| | - Sabuj Bhattacharyya
- Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Sciences, Bangalore, India
| | - Gilad Bino
- University of New South Wales, Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Paulo A V Borges
- Departamento de Ciências e Engenharia do Ambiente Universidade dos Açores, Azores, Portugal
| | - Raoul K Boughton
- Range Cattle Research and Education Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - H Jane Brockmann
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | | | | | - James Burton
- IUCN SSC Asian Wild Cattle Specialist Group, Cedar House, Chester, UK
| | | | | | | | | | - John P Carroll
- University of Nebraska, School of Natural Resources, Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
| | | | - David G Chapple
- School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Guillaume Chapron
- Department of Ecology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Riddarhyttan, Sweden
| | | | | | - Donatella Cogoni
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Centro Conservazione Biodiversità, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | - Rochelle Constantine
- School of Biological Sciences & Institute of Marine Science, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Christie Anne Craig
- Endangered Wildlife Trust, Office 8 & 9, Centre for Biodiversity Conservation, Cape Town, South Africa
| | | | - Nishma Dahal
- CSIR-Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology, Palampur, India
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - David Fairclough
- Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Department of Fisheries, Hillarys, Western Australia, Australia
| | | | - Giuseppe Fenu
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Centro Conservazione Biodiversità, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | | | | | - Brittany Finucci
- National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, Wellington, New Zealand
| | - Rita Földesi
- Institute of Crop Science and Resource Conservation, University of Bonn, Bonn, Germany
| | - Catherine M Foley
- Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, University of Hawai'i at Mānoa, Kaneohe, Hawai'i, USA
| | - Matthew Ford
- Museum für Naturkunde, Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science, Berlin, Germany
| | | | | | - Ricardo Garcia-Sandoval
- Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Circuito exterior s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, Coyoacán, Mexico
| | - Penny C Gardner
- Danau Girang Field Centre, c/o Sabah Wildlife Department, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia
| | - Roberto Garibay-Orijel
- Instituto de Biología, Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, Tercer Circuito s/n, Ciudad Universitaria, Ciudad de México, México
| | | | - Irene Gauto
- Asociación Etnobotánica Paraguaya, Lambaré, Paraguay
| | | | | | | | - Benito A González
- Laboratorio de Ecología de Vida Silvestre, Facultad de Ciencias Forestales y de la Conservación de la Naturaleza, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Tandora D Grant
- San Diego Zoo Institute for Conservation Research, San Diego, California, USA
| | | | - Andrew J Gregory
- Bowling Green State University, School of Earth Environment and Society, Bowling Green, Ohio, USA
| | | | - Marieka Gryzenhout
- Department of Genetics, University of the Free State, Bloemfontein, South Africa
| | - Noelle C Guernsey
- World Wildlife Fund Inc., Northern Great Plains Program, Bozeman, Montana, USA
| | - Garima Gupta
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
| | | | - Christian A Hagen
- Department of Fisheries & Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
| | - Madison B Hall
- Department of Biology, University of Central Florida, Orlando, Florida, USA
| | - Eric Hallerman
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA
| | - Kelly Hare
- Urban Wildlife Trust, Wellington/Hamilton, New Zealand
| | - Tom Hart
- Department of Zoology, Oxford University, Oxford, UK
| | | | | | - Richard Hatfield
- The Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, Portland, Oregon, USA
| | - Tahneal Hawke
- University of New South Wales, Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia
| | | | - Rod Hitchmough
- Department of Conservation-Te Papa Atawhai, Wellington, New Zealand
| | | | | | | | | | - Charlie Huveneers
- Southern Shark Ecology Group, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | | | - Dennis Jorgensen
- World Wildlife Fund Inc., Northern Great Plains Program, Bozeman, Montana, USA
| | | | - Lydia K D Katsis
- Wildlife Conservation Research Unit, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Recanati-Kaplan Centre, Abingdon, UK
| | | | - Boaz Kaunda-Arara
- Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, University of Eldoret, Eldoret, Kenya
| | | | - Daniel T Kraus
- University of Waterloo, School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Ken Lindeman
- Florida Institute of Technology, Program in Sustainability Studies, Melbourne, Florida, USA
| | - Jean Linsky
- Botanic Gardens Conservation International, Richmond, UK
| | - Edward Louis
- Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo and Aquarium, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
| | - Anna Loy
- Department of Biosciences and Territory, University of Molise, Pesche, Italy
| | | | - Jeffrey C Mangel
- Carrera de Biologia Marina, Universidad Cientifica del Sur, Lima, Peru
| | - Paul E Marinari
- Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, Virginia, USA
| | - Gabriel M Martin
- Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica, CONICET, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Gustavo Martinelli
- National Center for Flora Conservation (CNCFlora), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Philip J K McGowan
- School of Natural and Environmental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle, UK
| | - Alistair McInnes
- Seabird Conservation Programme, BirdLife South Africa, Foreshore, South Africa
| | | | | | | | - Daniel Money
- Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Carolina Laura Morales
- Grupo Ecología de la Polinización, INIBIOMA, Universidad Nacional del Comahue, CONICET, Bariloche, Argentina
| | | | | | - Anh Ha Nguyen
- Fauna & Flora International - Vietnam Programme, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | | | | | | | - Darren Norris
- School of Environmental Sciences, Federal University of Amapá, Macapá, Brazil
| | - Mark O'Brien
- BirdLife International Pacific Regional Office, Suva, Fiji
| | - Gabriela Akemi Oda
- Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro - UFRRJ, Department of Environmental Sciences, Forestry Institute, Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Simone Orsenigo
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra e dell'Ambiente, Università di Pavia; Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e dell'Ambiente, Centro Conservazione Biodiversità, Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Cagliari, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Glenn Plumb
- US National Park Service, Livingston, Montana, USA
| | | | - Ana Prohaska
- GeoGenetics Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Manuel G Quintana
- Division of Invertebrates, Argentine Museum of Natural Sciences, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | | | - Hassan Rankou
- IUCN SSC Orchid Specialist Group, Royal Botanic Gardens, Richmond, Surrey, UK
| | | | - James Thomas Reardon
- Department of Conservation, New Zealand, Fiordland District Office, Te Anau, New Zealand
| | - Marcelo Lopes Rheingantz
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação de Populações, Centro de Ciências da Saúde - Instituto de Biologia, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Stephen C Richter
- Division of Natural Areas and Department of Biological Sciences, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, Kentucky, USA
| | - Malin C Rivers
- Botanic Gardens Conservation International, Richmond, UK
| | | | - Patrícia da Rosa
- National Center for Flora Conservation (CNCFlora), Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | | | - Catherine Ryan
- Auckland University of Technology, School of Science, Auckland City, New Zealand
| | | | - Lily Salmon
- Nottingham Trent University, Brackenhurst Campus, Southwell, Nottinghamshire, UK
| | | | - Michael J Samways
- Department of Conservation Ecology & Entomology, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | | | - Amanda Souza Dos Santos
- Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Health Science Centre, Biology Institute, Plant Ecology Laboratory, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Emmanuel Schutz
- D'ABOVILLE Foundation and Demo Farm Inc, Makati, Philippines
| | | | | | - Fabrizio Serena
- Institute for Biological Resources and Marine Biotechnology, National Research Council-(CNR -IRBIM), Mazara del Vallo, Italy
| | | | - John A Shuey
- The Nature Conservancy, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Carlos Julio Polo Silva
- Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Ingeniería, Universidad de Bogotá Jorge Tadeo Lozano, Bogotá, Colombia
| | - John P Simaika
- Department of Water Resources and Ecosystems, IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, Delft, The Netherlands
| | - David R Smith
- U.S. Geological Survey, Kearneysville, West Virginia, USA
| | - Julia L Y Spaet
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, Department of Zoology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Aída M Vasco-Palacios
- Grupo de Microbiología Ambiental - BioMicro, Escuela de Microbiología, Universidad de Antioquia, UdeA, Medellín, Colombia
- Fundación Biodiversa Colombia, FBC, Bogotá, Colombia
| | | | - Jo Virens
- University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Alan Walker
- Centre for Environment, Fisheries & Aquaculture Science, Lowestoft, Suffolk, UK
| | | | - Lauren J Waller
- Southern African Foundation for the Conservation of Coastal Birds, Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Biodiversity and Conservation Biology, University of the Western Cape, Belville, South Africa
| | | | - Oliver R Wearn
- Fauna & Flora International - Vietnam Programme, Hanoi, Vietnam
| | - Merlijn van Weerd
- Institute of Environmental Sciences (CML), Leiden University, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Simon Weigmann
- Elasmo-Lab, Elasmobranch Research Laboratory, Hamburg, Germany
- Center of Natural History, University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Daniel Willcox
- Save Vietnam's Wildlife, Cuc Phuong National Park, Ninh Bình Province, Vietnam
| | - John Woinarski
- Charles Darwin University, Casuarina, Northern Territory, Australia
| | - Jean W H Yong
- Department of Biosystems and Technology, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Alnarp, Sweden
| | - Stuart Young
- IUCN SSC Asian Wild Cattle Specialist Group, Cedar House, Chester, UK
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Lamb SD, Altobelli JT, Easton LJ, Godfrey SS, Bishop PJ. Captive Hamilton’s frog (Leiopelma hamiltoni) associates non-randomly under retreat sites: preliminary insights into their social networks. New Zealand Journal of Zoology 2021. [DOI: 10.1080/03014223.2021.1994426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Simon D. Lamb
- Zoology Department, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | | | - Luke J. Easton
- Zoology Department, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
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Barr JI, Somaweera R, Godfrey SS, Gardner MG, Bateman PW. When one tail isn't enough: abnormal caudal regeneration in lepidosaurs and its potential ecological impacts. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2020; 95:1479-1496. [PMID: 32583608 DOI: 10.1111/brv.12625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Revised: 05/22/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Abnormal caudal regeneration, the production of additional tails through regeneration events, occurs in lepidosaurs as a result of incomplete autotomy or sufficient caudal wound. Despite being widely known to occur, documented events generally are limited to opportunistic single observations - hindering the understanding of the ecological importance of caudal regeneration. Here we compiled and reviewed a robust global database of both peer-reviewed and non-peer reviewed records of abnormal regeneration events in lepidosaurs published over the last 400 years. Using this database, we qualitatively and quantitatively assessed the occurrence and characteristics of abnormal tail regeneration among individuals, among species, and among populations. We identified 425 observations from 366 records pertaining to 175 species of lepidosaurs across 22 families from 63 different countries. At an individual level, regenerations ranged from bifurcations to hexafurcations; from normal regeneration from the original tail to multiple regenerations arising from a single point; and from growth from the distal third to the proximal third of the tail. Species showing abnormal regenerations included those with intra-vertebral, inter-vertebral or no autotomy planes, indicating that abnormal regenerations evidently occur across lepidosaurs regardless of whether the species demonstrates caudal autotomy or not. Within populations, abnormal regenerations were estimated at a mean ± SD of 2.75 ± 3.41% (range 0.1-16.7%). There is a significant lack of experimental studies to understand the potential ecological impacts of regeneration on the fitness and life history of individuals and populations. We hypothesised that abnormal regeneration may affect lepidosaurs via influencing kinematics of locomotion, restrictions in escape mechanisms, anti-predation tactics, and intra- and inter-specific signalling. Behaviourally testing these hypotheses would be an important future research direction.
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Affiliation(s)
- James I Barr
- Behavioural Ecology Laboratory, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Kent Street, Bentley, WA, 6102, Australia.,CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, 147 Underwood Avenue, Floreat, WA, 6014, Australia
| | - Ruchira Somaweera
- CSIRO Health and Biosecurity, 147 Underwood Avenue, Floreat, WA, 6014, Australia
| | - Stephanie S Godfrey
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, 340 Great King Street, North Dunedin, Dunedin, 9016, New Zealand
| | - Michael G Gardner
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Sturt Road, Bedford Park, SA, 5042, Australia.,The Evolutionary Biology Unit, South Australian Museum, North Terrace, Adelaide, SA, 5000, Australia
| | - Philip W Bateman
- Behavioural Ecology Laboratory, School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Kent Street, Bentley, WA, 6102, Australia
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Wohlfeil CK, Godfrey SS, Leu ST, Clayton J, Gardner MG. Spatial proximity and asynchronous refuge sharing networks both explain patterns of tick genetic relatedness among lizards, but in different years. AUSTRAL ECOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/aec.12899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Caroline K. Wohlfeil
- College of Science and Engineering Flinders University GPO Box 2100 Adelaide South Australia 5001 Australia
| | | | - Stephan T. Leu
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences University of Adelaide Adelaide South Australia Australia
| | - Jessica Clayton
- College of Science and Engineering Flinders University GPO Box 2100 Adelaide South Australia 5001 Australia
| | - Michael G. Gardner
- College of Science and Engineering Flinders University GPO Box 2100 Adelaide South Australia 5001 Australia
- Evolutionary Biology Unit South Australian Museum Adelaide South Australia Australia
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael G. Gardner
- Flinders University; Bedford Park SA 5042 Australia
- South Australian Museum; North Tce Adelaide SA 5000 Australia
| | | | - Erik Wapstra
- School of Biological Sciences; University of Tasmania; Hobart TAS 7001 Australia
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Taghipour A, Olfatifar M, Bahadory S, Godfrey SS, Abdoli A, Khatami A, Javanmard E, Shahrivar F. The global prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection in dogs: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Vet Parasitol 2020; 281:109093. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2020.109093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2019] [Revised: 03/19/2020] [Accepted: 03/21/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Payne E, Sinn DL, Spiegel O, Leu ST, Wohlfeil C, Godfrey SS, Gardner M, Sih A. Consistent individual differences in ecto‐parasitism of a long‐lived lizard host. OIKOS 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.06670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Eric Payne
- Dept of Environmental Science and Policy, Univ. of California Davis 1 Shields Ave. Davis CA 95616‐5270 USA
| | - David L. Sinn
- Dept of Environmental Science and Policy, Univ. of California Davis 1 Shields Ave. Davis CA 95616‐5270 USA
- Dept of Biological Sciences, Univ. of Tasmania Hobart Tasmania Australia
| | - Orr Spiegel
- School of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv Univ. Tel Aviv Israel
| | - Stephan T. Leu
- Dept of Biological Sciences, Macquarie Univ. Sydney Australia
| | - Caroline Wohlfeil
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders Univ. Adelaide Australia
| | | | - Michael Gardner
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders Univ. Adelaide Australia
- Evolutionary Biology Unit, South Australian Museum North Terrace Adelaide Australia
| | - Andy Sih
- Dept of Environmental Science and Policy, Univ. of California Davis 1 Shields Ave. Davis CA 95616‐5270 USA
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Northover AS, Thompson RCA, Lymbery AJ, Wayne AF, Keatley S, Ash A, Elliot AD, Morris K, Godfrey SS. Altered parasite community structure in an endangered marsupial following translocation. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2019; 10:13-22. [PMID: 31334028 PMCID: PMC6617222 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2019.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2019] [Revised: 06/27/2019] [Accepted: 07/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Fauna translocations play an integral role in the management of threatened wildlife, though we are limited by our understanding of how the host-parasite community changes during translocation. During this longitudinal field-based study, we monitored gastrointestinal, blood-borne and ectoparasite taxa infecting woylies (Bettongia penicillata) for up to 12 months following two fauna translocations to supplement existing wild woylie populations in three different sites (Dryandra, Walcott and Warrup East) within the south-west of Western Australia. We aimed to (a) identify changes in parasite community structure of both translocated and resident woylies following translocation; and (b) evaluate the efficacy of ivermectin treatment in translocated hosts. Destination site and time since translocation had the strongest effects on parasite prevalence and mean faecal egg counts following translocation. Ivermectin treatment did not significantly reduce parasite prevalence or mean faecal egg counts in treated hosts. Prior to translocation, parasite community composition differed significantly between woylies selected for translocation and resident woylies within each release site. Following translocation, the parasite communities of translocated and resident hosts converged to become more similar over time, with loss of parasite taxa and novel host-parasite associations emerging. This is the first study to examine changes to the broader parasite community in translocated and resident animals following translocation. The dominant site-specific response of parasites following translocation reinforces the importance of incorporating parasite studies to enhance our fundamental understanding of perturbations in host-parasite systems during translocation, in particular the site-level drivers of parasite dynamics. Perturbations to host-parasite systems during translocation are poorly understood. Parasite dynamics were strongly impacted by site and time since translocation. The parasite communities of translocated and resident hosts converged over time. Ivermectin treatment had no significant impact on target parasites. Translocation protocols should consider the intrinsic biodiversity value of parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy S Northover
- College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia
| | - R C Andrew Thompson
- College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia
| | - Alan J Lymbery
- Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia
| | - Adrian F Wayne
- Biodiversity and Conservation Science, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Brain Street, Manjimup, Western Australia, 6258, Australia
| | - Sarah Keatley
- College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia
| | - Amanda Ash
- College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia
| | - Aileen D Elliot
- College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia
| | - Keith Morris
- Biodiversity and Conservation Science, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Wildlife Place, Woodvale, Western Australia, 6946, Australia
| | - Stephanie S Godfrey
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, 362 Leith Street, Dunedin, 9016, New Zealand
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Northover AS, Keatley S, Elliot AD, Hobbs RP, Yang R, Lymbery AJ, Godfrey SS, Wayne AF, Thompson RCA. Identification of a novel species of Eimeria Schneider, 1875 from the woylie, Bettongia penicillata Gray (Diprotodontia: Potoroidae) and the genetic characterisation of three Eimeria spp. from other potoroid marsupials. Syst Parasitol 2019; 96:553-563. [PMID: 31332672 DOI: 10.1007/s11230-019-09870-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2018] [Accepted: 06/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Faecal samples (n = 1,093) collected from the woylie Bettongia penicillata Gray, in south-western Australia were examined for the presence of coccidian parasites. Eimeria sp. oöcysts were detected in 15.2% of samples. Faecal samples obtained from the eastern bettong Bettongia gaimardi (Desmarest) (n = 4) and long-nosed potoroo Potorous tridactylus (Kerr) (n = 12) in Tasmania, were also screened for the presence of Eimeria spp. (prevalence 50% and 41.7%, respectively). Morphological and genetic comparison with other known species of Eimeria indicates that the material identified in woylies is novel. This study aimed to (i) morphologically describe and genetically characterise Eimeria woyliei n. sp. found in woylies; and (ii) genetically characterise Eimeria gaimardi Barker, O'Callaghan & Beveridge, 1988, Eimeria potoroi Barker, O'Callaghan & Beveridge, 1988, and Eimeria mundayi Barker, O'Callaghan & Beveridge, 1988, from other potoroid marsupials. Molecular phylogenetic analyses conducted at the 18S rDNA and mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) loci revealed that E. woyliei n. sp. was most closely related to Eimeria setonicis Barker, O'Callaghan & Beveridge, 1988, at the 18S rDNA locus, and Eimeria trichosuri O'Callaghan & O'Donoghue, 2001, at the cox1 locus. Eimeria woyliei n. sp. is the sixth species of Eimeria to be formally described from potoroid marsupials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy S Northover
- College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia.
| | - Sarah Keatley
- College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia
| | - Aileen D Elliot
- College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia
| | - Russell P Hobbs
- College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia
| | - Rongchang Yang
- College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia
| | - Alan J Lymbery
- Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia
| | - Stephanie S Godfrey
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, 362 Leith Street, Dunedin, 9016, New Zealand
| | - Adrian F Wayne
- Biodiversity and Conservation Science, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Brain Street, Manjimup, WA, 6258, Australia
| | - R C Andrew Thompson
- College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia
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Northover AS, Godfrey SS, Keatley S, Lymbery AJ, Wayne AF, Cooper C, Pallant L, Morris K, Thompson RCA. Increased Trypanosoma spp. richness and prevalence of haemoparasite co-infection following translocation. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:126. [PMID: 30898141 PMCID: PMC6427866 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3370-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2018] [Accepted: 03/01/2019] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Understanding how fauna translocation and antiparasitic drug treatment impact parasite community structure within a host is vital for optimising translocation outcomes. Trypanosoma spp. and piroplasms (Babesia and Theileria spp.) are known to infect Australian marsupials, including the woylie (Bettongia penicillata). However relatively little is known about these haemoparasites, or how they respond to management practices such as translocation. We monitored haemoparasites infecting woylies for up to 12 months during two fauna translocations to supplement existing woylie populations in three different sites (Dryandra, Walcott and Warrup East) within south-western Australia between 2014 and 2016, with the aim of investigating (i) how haemoparasite prevalence, Trypanosoma spp. richness and Trypanosoma spp. community composition varied over time and between different sites following translocation; and (ii) whether ivermectin treatment indirectly impacts haemoparasite prevalence. Using molecular methods, 1211 blood samples were screened for the presence of trypanosomes, and a subset of these samples (n = 264) were also tested for piroplasms. Results Trypanosomes and piroplasms were identified in 55% and 94% of blood samples, respectively. We identified five Trypanosoma species, two Theileria species, a single species of Babesia and a novel Bodo species. Trypanosoma spp. richness and the prevalence of haemoparasite co-infection increased after translocation. Prior to translocation, Trypanosoma spp. community composition differed significantly between translocated and resident woylies within Walcott and Warrup East, but not Dryandra. Six months later, there was a significant difference between translocated and resident woylies within Dryandra, but not Walcott or Warrup East. The response of haemoparasites to translocation was highly site-specific, with predominant changes to the haemoparasite community in translocated woylies occurring within the first few months following translocation. Ivermectin treatment had no significant effect on haemoparasite prevalence. Conclusions This study contributes to our understanding of haemoparasite dynamics in woylies following translocation. The highly site-specific and rapid response of haemoparasites to translocation highlights the need to better understand what drives these effects. Given that haemoparasite prevalence and composition of translocated and resident animals changed significantly following translocation, we propose that parasite monitoring should form an essential component of translocation protocols, and such protocols should endeavour to monitor translocated hosts and cohabiting species. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13071-019-3370-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy S Northover
- College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia.
| | - Stephanie S Godfrey
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, 362 Leith Street, Dunedin, 9016, New Zealand
| | - Sarah Keatley
- College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia
| | - Alan J Lymbery
- Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia
| | - Adrian F Wayne
- Biodiversity and Conservation Science, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Brain Street, Manjimup, Western Australia, 6258, Australia
| | - Crystal Cooper
- College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia
| | - Louise Pallant
- College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia
| | - Keith Morris
- Biodiversity and Conservation Science, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Wildlife Place, Woodvale, Western Australia, 6946, Australia
| | - R C Andrew Thompson
- College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia
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Barr JI, Somaweera R, Godfrey SS, Bateman PW. Increased tail length in the King’s skink,Egernia kingii(Reptilia: Scincidae): an anti-predation tactic for juveniles? Biol J Linn Soc Lond 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/biolinnean/bly196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- James I Barr
- Behavioural Ecology Lab., School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, Australia
- CSIRO Land and Water, Floreat, WA , Australia
| | | | - Stephanie S Godfrey
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, North Dunedin, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Philip W Bateman
- Behavioural Ecology Lab., School of Molecular and Life Sciences, Curtin University, Bentley, WA, Australia
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Taggart PL, Leu ST, Spiegel O, Godfrey SS, Sih A, Bull CM. Endure your parasites: Sleepy Lizard (Tiliqua rugosa) movement is not affected by their ectoparasites. CAN J ZOOL 2018. [DOI: 10.1139/cjz-2017-0352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Movement is often used to indicate host vigour, as it has various ecological and evolutionary implications, and has been shown to be affected by parasites. We investigate the relationship between tick load and movement in the Australian Sleepy Lizard (Tiliqua rugosa (Gray, 1825)) using high resolution GPS tracking. This allowed us to track individuals across the entire activity season. We hypothesized that tick load negatively affects host movement (mean distance moved per day). We used a multivariate statistical model informed by the ecology and biology of the host and parasite, their host–parasite relationship, and known host movement patterns. This allowed us to quantify the effects of ticks on lizard movement above and beyond effects of other factors such as time in the activity season, lizard body condition, and stress. We did not find any support for our hypothesis. Instead, our results provide evidence that lizard movement is strongly driven by internal state (sex and body condition independent of tick load) and by external factors (environmental conditions). We suggest that the Sleepy Lizard has largely adapted to natural levels of tick infection in this system. Our results conform to host–parasite arms race theory, which predicts varying impacts of parasites on hosts in natural systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrick L. Taggart
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Sturt Road, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia
| | - Stephan T. Leu
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Sturt Road, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia
| | - Orr Spiegel
- School of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Stephanie S. Godfrey
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, 340 Great King Street, P.O. Box 56, Dunedin 9054, New Zealand
| | - Andrew Sih
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of California, 1023 Wickson Hall, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA
| | - C. Michael Bull
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Sturt Road, Bedford Park, SA 5042, Australia
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Hacking JD, Stuart‐Fox D, Godfrey SS, Gardner MG. Specific MHC class I supertype associated with parasite infection and color morph in a wild lizard population. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:9920-9933. [PMID: 30386586 PMCID: PMC6202711 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2018] [Revised: 07/19/2018] [Accepted: 07/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) is a large gene family that plays a central role in the immune system of all jawed vertebrates. Nonavian reptiles are underrepresented within the MHC literature and little is understood regarding the mechanisms maintaining MHC diversity in this vertebrate group. Here, we examined the relative roles of parasite-mediated selection and sexual selection in maintaining MHC class I diversity of a color polymorphic lizard. We discovered evidence for parasite-mediated selection acting via rare-allele advantage or fluctuating selection as ectoparasite load was significantly lower in the presence of a specific MHC supertype (functional clustering of alleles): supertype four. Based on comparisons between ectoparasite prevalence and load, and assessment of the impact of ectoparasite load on host fitness, we suggest that supertype four confers quantitative resistance to ticks or an intracellular tickborne parasite. We found no evidence for MHC-associated mating in terms of pair genetic distance, number of alleles, or specific supertypes. An association was uncovered between supertype four and male throat color morph. However, it is unlikely that male throat coloration acts as a signal of MHC genotype to conspecifics because we found no evidence to suggest that male throat coloration predicts male mating status. Overall, our results suggest that parasite-mediated selection plays a role in maintaining MHC diversity in this population via rare-allele advantage and/or fluctuating selection. Further work is required to determine whether sexual selection also plays a role in maintaining MHC diversity in agamid lizards.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica D. Hacking
- College of Science and EngineeringFlinders UniversityBedford ParkSouth AustraliaAustralia
| | - Devi Stuart‐Fox
- School of BioSciencesUniversity of MelbourneParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
| | | | - Michael G. Gardner
- College of Science and EngineeringFlinders UniversityBedford ParkSouth AustraliaAustralia
- Evolutionary Biology UnitSouth Australian MuseumAdelaideSouth AustraliaAustralia
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Northover AS, Elliot AD, Keatley S, Lim Z, Botero A, Ash A, Lymbery AJ, Wayne AF, Godfrey SS, Thompson RCA. Debilitating disease in a polyparasitised woylie ( Bettongia penicillata): A diagnostic investigation. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2018; 7:274-279. [PMID: 30094176 PMCID: PMC6077177 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2018.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2018] [Revised: 06/01/2018] [Accepted: 07/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
During monitoring of critically endangered woylie (Bettongia penicillata) populations within the south-west of Western Australia, an adult female woylie was euthanased after being found in extremely poor body condition with diffuse alopecia, debilitating skin lesions and severe ectoparasite infestation. Trypanosoma copemani G2 and Sarcocystis sp. were detected molecularly within tissue samples collected post-mortem. Potorostrongylus woyliei and Paraustrostrongylus sp. nematodes were present within the stomach and small intestine, respectively. Blood collected ante-mortem revealed the presence of moderate hypomagnesaemia, mild hypokalaemia, mild hyperglobulinaemia and mild hypoalbuminaemia. Diffuse megakaryocytic hypoplasia was evident within the bone marrow. We propose various hypotheses that may explain the presence of severe ectoparasite infection, skin disease and poor body condition in this woylie. Given the potential deleterious effects of parasite infection, the importance of monitoring parasites cannot be over-emphasised. Severe ectoparasite infestation, skin disease and poor body condition in a woylie. Trypanosoma copemani genotype 2 and Sarcocystis sp. identified molecularly in tissues. Clinical signs similar to those observed during the woylie decline.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy S Northover
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia
| | - Aileen D Elliot
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia
| | - Sarah Keatley
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia
| | - Ziyuan Lim
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia
| | - Adriana Botero
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia
| | - Amanda Ash
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia
| | - Alan J Lymbery
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia
| | - Adrian F Wayne
- Biodiversity and Conservation Science, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Brain Street, Manjimup, Western Australia, 6258, Australia
| | - Stephanie S Godfrey
- Department of Zoology, University of Otago, 362 Leith Street, Dunedin, 9016, New Zealand
| | - R C Andrew Thompson
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia
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Godfrey SS, Keatley S, Botero A, Thompson CK, Wayne AF, Lymbery AJ, Morris K, Thompson RCA. Trypanosome co-infections increase in a declining marsupial population. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2018; 7:221-227. [PMID: 29942738 PMCID: PMC6010928 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2018.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2017] [Revised: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 06/12/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the impacts of parasites on wildlife is growing in importance as diseases pose a threat to wildlife populations. Woylie (syn. brush-tailed bettong, Bettongia penicillata) populations have undergone enigmatic declines in south-western Western Australia over the past decade. Trypanosomes have been suggested as a possible factor contributing towards these declines because of their high prevalence in the declining population. We asked whether temporal patterns of infection with Trypanosoma spp. were associated with the decline patterns of the host, or if other factors (host sex, body condition, co-infection or rainfall) were more influential in predicting infection patterns. Species-specific nested PCRs were used to detect the two most common trypanosomes (T. copemani and T. vegrandis) from 444 woylie blood samples collected between 2006 and 2012. Time relative to the decline (year) and an interaction with co-infection by the other trypanosome best explained patterns of infection for both trypanosomes. The prevalence of single species infections for both T. copemani and T. vegrandis was lower after the population crash, however, the occurrence of co-infections increased after the crash compared to before the crash. Our results suggest an interaction between the two parasites with the decline of their host, leading to a higher level of co-infection after the decline. We discuss the possible mechanisms that may have led to a higher level of co-infection after the population crash, and highlight the importance of considering co-infection when investigating the role of parasites in species declines. Woylie (bettong) populations have declined by >90% over 10 years. Prevalence of Trypanosoma copemani and T. vegrandis increased during the decline, and reset to a lower level after the crash. Overall prevalence of both Trypanosoma spp. decreased during the decline. The proportion of hosts co-infected with both species of Trypanosoma spp. increased after the population crash. Highlights the need to consider co-infection and the effects of declining host populations on parasite prevalence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie S Godfrey
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia.,Department of Zoology, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
| | - Sarah Keatley
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Adriana Botero
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Craig K Thompson
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Adrian F Wayne
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia.,Biodiversity and Conservation Science, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Alan J Lymbery
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Keith Morris
- Biodiversity and Conservation Science, Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Western Australia, Australia
| | - R C Andrew Thompson
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia
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Foote I, Godfrey SS, Robertson BC. Mate choice explains high genetic diversity in a small founding population of the New Zealand sea lion (Phocarctos hookeri). AUST J ZOOL 2018. [DOI: 10.1071/zo19023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Founder populations are susceptible to reduced genetic diversity, which can hinder successful population establishment. A new genetic lineage of the New Zealand sea lion (Phocarctos hookeri) has recently colonised the historical range of the New Zealand mainland (Otago Peninsula). Despite a small founding population, previous research indicated that nuclear genetic diversity in the Otago Peninsula population is similar to that of the larger source population (Sandy Bay, Auckland Islands). Our research aimed to identify whether mechanisms of female mate choice could help to explain the unexpectedly high level of genetic diversity in the founder population. We used genetic data at 12 microsatellite loci for mother–pup pairs from both populations, and the software COLONY to identify putative paternal genotypes inferred from allele sharing between known mother–pup pairs. We found that mating pairs were, on average, more related at the Otago Peninsula location. However, Sandy Bay females were mating with males more related to themselves than expected by chance, while the Otago Peninsula females were not. These findings suggest that female choice in this otariid species appears important, although may be constrained in some situations. Our findings also help to explain how the recently founded population is able to maintain a viable, growing population.
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Abstract
Abstract
Contact network models have enabled significant advances in understanding the influence of behaviour on parasite and pathogen transmission. They are an important tool that links variation in individual behaviour, to epidemiological consequences at the population level. Here, in our introduction to this special issue, we highlight the importance of applying network approaches to disease ecological and epidemiological questions, and how this has provided a much deeper understanding of these research areas. Recent advances in tracking host behaviour (bio-logging: e.g., GPS tracking, barcoding) and tracking pathogens (high-resolution sequencing), as well as methodological advances (multi-layer networks, computational techniques) started producing exciting new insights into disease transmission through contact networks. We discuss some of the exciting directions that the field is taking, some of the challenges, and importantly the opportunities that lie ahead. For instance, we suggest to integrate multiple transmission pathways, multiple pathogens, and in some systems, multiple host species, into the next generation of network models. Corresponding opportunities exist in utilising molecular techniques, such as high-resolution sequencing, to establish causality in network connectivity and disease outcomes. Such novel developments and the continued integration of network tools offers a more complete understanding of pathogen transmission processes, their underlying mechanisms and their evolutionary consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan T. Leu
- aDepartment of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia. E-mail:
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Thompson RA, Lymbery AJ, Godfrey SS. Parasites at Risk – Insights from an Endangered Marsupial. Trends Parasitol 2018; 34:12-22. [DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2017.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2017] [Revised: 09/04/2017] [Accepted: 09/04/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Godfrey SS, Gardner MG. Lizards, ticks and contributions to Australian parasitology: C. Michael Bull (1947-2016). Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2017; 6:295-298. [PMID: 28971015 PMCID: PMC5612795 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2017.08.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2017] [Revised: 08/25/2017] [Accepted: 08/29/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Professor C. Michael Bull was a great scientist and mentor, and an Associate Editor of this journal. While his research career spanned the fields of behavioural ecology, conservation biology and herpetology, in this article, we pay tribute to his major contribution to Australian parasitology. Mike authored more than eighty articles on host-parasite ecology, and revealed major insights into the biology and ecology of ticks from his long term study of the parapatric boundary of two tick species (Amblyomma limbatum and Bothriocroton hydrosauri) on the sleepy lizard (Tiliqua rugosa). In this article, we provide an overview of how this research journey developed to become one of the longest-running studies of lizards and their ticks, totalling 35 years of continuous surveys of ticks on lizards, and the insights and knowledge that he generated along that journey. Mike Bull was an ecologist who made a major contribution to wildlife parasitology. He began this journey studying the parapatric boundary between two ticks on a lizard. Developed into one of the longest running studies of ticks on lizards, lasting 35 years. Provided new insights into how host behaviour can influence parasite transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Michael G Gardner
- College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia, The Evolutionary Biology Unit, South Australian Museum, Adelaide, Australia
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Pearson SK, Godfrey SS, Schwensow N, Bull CM, Gardner MG. Genes and Group Membership Predict Gidgee Skink (Egernia stokesii) Reproductive Pairs. J Hered 2017; 108:369-378. [PMID: 28407082 DOI: 10.1093/jhered/esx026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2016] [Accepted: 04/10/2017] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to their role in mate choice, disease resistance and kin recognition, genes of the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) are good candidates for investigating genetic-based mate choice. MHC-based mate choice is context dependent and influenced by many factors including social structure. Social structure diversity makes the Egernia group of lizards suitable for comparative studies of MHC-based mate choice. We investigated mate choice in the gidgee skink (Egernia stokesii), a lizard that exhibits high levels of social group and spatial stability. Group membership was incorporated into tests of the good genes as heterozygosity and compatible genes hypotheses for adaptive (MHC) and neutral (microsatellite) genetic diversity (n = 47 individuals genotyped). Females were more likely to pair with a male with higher MHC diversity and with whom they had a lower degree of microsatellite relatedness. Males were more likely to pair with a female with higher microsatellite heterozygosity and with whom they shared a lower proportion of MHC alleles. Lizards were more likely to mate with an individual from within, rather than outside, their social group, which confirmed earlier findings for this species and indicated mate choice had already largely occurred prior to either social group formation or acceptance of an individual into an existing group. Thus, a combination of genes and group membership, rather than group membership alone, predicted mate choice in this species. This work will contribute to an enhanced understanding of squamate group formation and a deeper understanding of the evolution of sociality within all vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah K Pearson
- From the School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University of South Australia, Bedford Park 5042, Australia (Pearson, Bull, and Gardner); School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Australia (Godfrey); School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia (Schwensow); Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany (Schwensow); and Evolutionary Biology Unit, South Australian Museum, Adelaide, Australia (Gardner)
| | - Stephanie S Godfrey
- From the School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University of South Australia, Bedford Park 5042, Australia (Pearson, Bull, and Gardner); School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Australia (Godfrey); School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia (Schwensow); Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany (Schwensow); and Evolutionary Biology Unit, South Australian Museum, Adelaide, Australia (Gardner)
| | - Nina Schwensow
- From the School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University of South Australia, Bedford Park 5042, Australia (Pearson, Bull, and Gardner); School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Australia (Godfrey); School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia (Schwensow); Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany (Schwensow); and Evolutionary Biology Unit, South Australian Museum, Adelaide, Australia (Gardner)
| | - C Michael Bull
- From the School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University of South Australia, Bedford Park 5042, Australia (Pearson, Bull, and Gardner); School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Australia (Godfrey); School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia (Schwensow); Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany (Schwensow); and Evolutionary Biology Unit, South Australian Museum, Adelaide, Australia (Gardner)
| | - Michael G Gardner
- From the School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University of South Australia, Bedford Park 5042, Australia (Pearson, Bull, and Gardner); School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Australia (Godfrey); School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia (Schwensow); Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany (Schwensow); and Evolutionary Biology Unit, South Australian Museum, Adelaide, Australia (Gardner)
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Hing S, Northover AS, Narayan EJ, Wayne AF, Jones KL, Keatley S, Thompson RCA, Godfrey SS. Evaluating Stress Physiology and Parasite Infection Parameters in the Translocation of Critically Endangered Woylies (Bettongia penicillata). Ecohealth 2017; 14:128-138. [PMID: 28213652 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-017-1214-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2016] [Revised: 12/31/2016] [Accepted: 01/19/2017] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Translocation can be stressful for wildlife. Stress may be important in fauna translocation because it has been suggested that it can exacerbate the impact of infectious disease on translocated wildlife. However, few studies explore this hypothesis by measuring stress physiology and infection indices in parallel during wildlife translocations. We analysed faecal cortisol metabolite (FCM) concentration and endoparasite parameters (nematodes, coccidians and haemoparasites) in a critically endangered marsupial, the woylie (Bettongia penicillata), 1-3 months prior to translocation, at translocation, and 6 months later. FCM for both translocated and resident woylies was significantly higher after translocation compared to before or at translocation. In addition, body condition decreased with increasing FCM after translocation. These patterns in host condition and physiology may be indicative of translocation stress or stress associated with factors independent of the translocation. Parasite factors also influenced FCM in translocated woylies. When haemoparasites were detected, there was a significant negative relationship between strongyle egg count and FCM. This may reflect the influence of glucocorticoids on the immune response to micro- and macro-parasites. Our results indicate that host physiology and infection patterns can change significantly during translocation, but further investigation is required to determine how these patterns influence translocation success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Hing
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia.
| | - Amy S Northover
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia
| | - Edward J Narayan
- School of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW, 2650, Australia
| | - Adrian F Wayne
- Science and Conservation Division, Department of Parks and Wildlife, Manjimup, WA, 6258, Australia
| | - Krista L Jones
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia
| | - Sarah Keatley
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia
| | - R C Andrew Thompson
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia
| | - Stephanie S Godfrey
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia
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Northover AS, Godfrey SS, Lymbery AJ, Morris K, Wayne AF, Thompson RCA. Evaluating the Effects of Ivermectin Treatment on Communities of Gastrointestinal Parasites in Translocated Woylies (Bettongia penicillata). Ecohealth 2017; 14:117-127. [PMID: 26719294 DOI: 10.1007/s10393-015-1088-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2015] [Revised: 09/23/2015] [Accepted: 11/02/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Wildlife species are often treated with anti-parasitic drugs prior to translocation, despite the effects of this treatment being relatively unknown. Disruption of normal host-parasite relationships is inevitable during translocation, and targeted anti-parasitic drug treatment may exacerbate this phenomenon with inadvertent impacts on both target and non-target parasite species. Here, we investigate the effects of ivermectin treatment on communities of gastrointestinal parasites in translocated woylies (Bettongia penicillata). Faecal samples were collected at three time points (at the time of translocation, and 1 and 3 months post-translocation) and examined for nematode eggs and coccidian oocysts. Parasite prevalence and (for nematodes) abundance were estimated in both treated and untreated hosts. In our study, a single subcutaneous injection of ivermectin significantly reduced Strongyloides-like egg counts 1 month post-translocation. Strongyle egg counts and coccidia prevalence were not reduced by ivermectin treatment, but were strongly influenced by site. Likewise, month of sampling rather than ivermectin treatment positively influenced body condition in woylies post-translocation. Our results demonstrate the efficacy of ivermectin in temporarily reducing Strongyloides-like nematode abundance in woylies. We also highlight the possibility that translocation-induced changes to host density may influence coinfecting parasite abundance and host body condition post-translocation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy S Northover
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia.
| | - Stephanie S Godfrey
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia
| | - Alan J Lymbery
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia
| | - Keith Morris
- Science and Conservation Division, Western Australian Department of Parks and Wildlife, Woodvale, WA, 6946, Australia
| | - Adrian F Wayne
- Science and Conservation Division, Western Australian Department of Parks and Wildlife, Manjimup, WA, 6258, Australia
| | - R C Andrew Thompson
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, WA, 6150, Australia
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Bull CM, Gardner MG, Sih A, Spiegel O, Godfrey SS, Leu ST. Why Is Social Behavior Rare in Reptiles? Lessons From Sleepy Lizards. Advances in the Study of Behavior 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.asb.2017.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
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Borremans B, Reijniers J, Hughes NK, Godfrey SS, Gryseels S, Makundi RH, Leirs H. Nonlinear scaling of foraging contacts with rodent population density. OIKOS 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.03623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Benny Borremans
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, Univ. of Antwerp; Antwerp Belgium
| | - Jonas Reijniers
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, Univ. of Antwerp; Antwerp Belgium
- Dept of Engineering Management; Univ. of Antwerp; Antwerp Belgium
| | - Nelika K. Hughes
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, Univ. of Antwerp; Antwerp Belgium
- School of BioSciences, Univ. of Melbourne; Melbourne Australia
| | - Stephanie S. Godfrey
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch Univ.; Western Australia Australia
| | - Sophie Gryseels
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, Univ. of Antwerp; Antwerp Belgium
| | - Rhodes H. Makundi
- Pest Management Center, Sokoine Univ. of Agriculture; Morogoro Tanzania
| | - Herwig Leirs
- Evolutionary Ecology Group, Univ. of Antwerp; Antwerp Belgium
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Spiegel O, Leu ST, Sih A, Godfrey SS, Bull CM. When the going gets tough: behavioural type-dependent space use in the sleepy lizard changes as the season dries. Proc Biol Sci 2016; 282:rspb.2015.1768. [PMID: 26609082 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2015.1768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding space use remains a major challenge for animal ecology, with implications for species interactions, disease spread, and conservation. Behavioural type (BT) may shape the space use of individuals within animal populations. Bolder or more aggressive individuals tend to be more exploratory and disperse further. Yet, to date we have limited knowledge on how space use other than dispersal depends on BT. To address this question we studied BT-dependent space-use patterns of sleepy lizards (Tiliqua rugosa) in southern Australia. We combined high-resolution global positioning system (GPS) tracking of 72 free-ranging lizards with repeated behavioural assays, and with a survey of the spatial distributions of their food and refuge resources. Bayesian generalized linear mixed models (GLMM) showed that lizards responded to the spatial distribution of resources at the neighbourhood scale and to the intensity of space use by other conspecifics (showing apparent conspecific avoidance). BT (especially aggressiveness) affected space use by lizards and their response to ecological and social factors, in a seasonally dependent manner. Many of these effects and interactions were stronger later in the season when food became scarce and environmental conditions got tougher. For example, refuge and food availability became more important later in the season and unaggressive lizards were more responsive to these predictors. These findings highlight a commonly overlooked source of heterogeneity in animal space use and improve our mechanistic understanding of processes leading to behaviourally driven disease dynamics and social structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orr Spiegel
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Stephan T Leu
- School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Andrew Sih
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy, University of California, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Stephanie S Godfrey
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, 90 South St, Murdoch, Western Australia, Australia
| | - C Michael Bull
- School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
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28
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Hing S, Currie A, Broomfield S, Keatley S, Jones K, Thompson RCA, Narayan E, Godfrey SS. Host stress physiology and Trypanosoma haemoparasite infection influence innate immunity in the woylie (Bettongia penicillata). Comp Immunol Microbiol Infect Dis 2016; 46:32-9. [PMID: 27260808 DOI: 10.1016/j.cimid.2016.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2015] [Revised: 04/08/2016] [Accepted: 04/13/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Understanding immune function is critical to conserving wildlife in view of infectious disease threats, particularly in threatened species vulnerable to stress, immunocompromise and infection. However, few studies examine stress, immune function and infection in wildlife. We used a flow cytometry protocol developed for human infants to assess phagocytosis, a key component of innate immunity, in a critically endangered marsupial, the woylie (Bettongia penicillata). The effects of stress physiology and Trypanosoma infection on phagocytosis were investigated. Blood and faecal samples were collected from woylies in a captive facility over three months. Trypanosoma status was determined using PCR. Faecal cortisol metabolites (FCM) were quantified by enzyme-immunoassay. Mean phagocytosis measured was >90%. An interaction between sex and FCM influenced the percentage of phagocytosing leukocytes, possibly reflecting the influence of sex hormones and glucocorticoids. An interaction between Trypanosoma status and FCM influenced phagocytosis index, suggesting that stress physiology and infection status influence innate immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Hing
- Murdoch University, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia.
| | - Andrew Currie
- Murdoch University, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia
| | - Steven Broomfield
- Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Kent Street, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia
| | - Sarah Keatley
- Murdoch University, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia
| | - Krista Jones
- Murdoch University, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia
| | - R C Andrew Thompson
- Murdoch University, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia
| | - Edward Narayan
- Charles Sturt University, School of Animal and Veterinary Science, Boorooma Street, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2678, Australia
| | - Stephanie S Godfrey
- Murdoch University, School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia
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Abstract
We used video recordings of 29 pygmy bluetongue lizards for ten days of each month during their spring and summer activity season to observe scatting behaviour. This was possible because resident lizards rarely moved from their single entrance burrows. We used these observations to ask questions about social communication that might be relevant to conservation of this endangered species. We found lizards produced more scats in the middle of the day than earlier or later in the day, and more scats in the spring and early summer than later in the summer. Lizards moved an average of 68.54 ± 0.09 cm from their burrow entrance to deposit scats, taking an average of 2.4 min per defecation trip. They tended to use the same path direction for most defecation trips, but used more different directions if there were more close neighbours, strongly supporting a hypothesis that scats mark burrow ownership. The results suggested that conservation managers might reduce stress for relocated lizards by removing scat piles in the early stages of settlement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehregan Ebrahimi
- School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia 5001, Australia
- Department of Biology, Shiraz University, Shiraz 71454, Iran
| | - Stephanie S. Godfrey
- School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia 5001, Australia
- School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia
| | - Aaron L. Fenner
- School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia 5001, Australia
| | - C. Michael Bull
- School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia 5001, Australia
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Hing S, Jones KL, Rafferty C, Thompson RCA, Narayan EJ, Godfrey SS. Wildlife in the line of fire: evaluating the stress physiology of a critically endangered Australian marsupial after bushfire. AUST J ZOOL 2016. [DOI: 10.1071/zo16082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Australian native fauna are thought to be well adapted to fire-prone landscapes, but bushfires may still pose considerable challenges or stressors to wildlife. We investigated the impact of bushfire on the stress physiology of the woylie (brush-tailed bettong, Bettongia penicillata) a critically endangered Australian marsupial, and assessed whether fitness indices (body condition and parasite load) influenced stress physiology before and after the fire. We hypothesised that there would be a significant change in stress physiology indicators (in the form of faecal cortisol metabolites, FCM) following the fire, compared with the months previous. We trapped woylies (n = 19) at Whiteman Park Reserve in Perth, Western Australia, two days after a major bushfire and measured FCM concentration by enzyme immunoassay. Population-level comparisons of FCM were made between these samples and those collected in previous months (n = 58). While mean FCM varied by month of sample collection, it was not higher after the fire. We suggest that woylies may be able to maintain homeostasis through change (allostasis), at least in the period immediately after the fire. This is supported by our finding that FCM did not relate significantly to body condition or parasite load. Our results potentially highlight the physiological and behavioural adaptations of woylies to fire, which could be further explored in future studies.
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Hing S, Narayan EJ, Thompson RCA, Godfrey SS. The relationship between physiological stress and wildlife disease: consequences for health and conservation. Wildl Res 2016. [DOI: 10.1071/wr15183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Wildlife populations are under increasing pressure from a variety of threatening processes, ranging from climate change to habitat loss, that can incite a physiological stress response. The stress response influences immune function, with potential consequences for patterns of infection and transmission of disease among and within wildlife, domesticated animals and humans. This is concerning because stress may exacerbate the impact of disease on species vulnerable to extinction, with consequences for biodiversity conservation globally. Furthermore, stress may shape the role of wildlife in the spread of emerging infectious diseases (EID) such as Hendra virus (HeV) and Ebola virus. However, we still have a limited understanding of the influence of physiological stress on infectious disease in wildlife. We highlight key reasons why an improved understanding of the relationship between stress and wildlife disease could benefit conservation, and animal and public health, and discuss approaches for future investigation. In particular, we recommend that increased attention be given to the influence of anthropogenic stressors including climate change, habitat loss and management interventions on disease dynamics in wildlife populations.
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Abstract
The pygmy bluetongue lizard (Tiliqua adelaidensis) is an endangered species which is restricted to native grassland remnants in South Australia. Individuals live in vertical burrows with a single entrance from which they ambush invertebrate prey. We monitored marked burrows over two entire spring-summer seasons, the period when the lizards are active, and found that the population contained a mixture of dispersers that remained in a burrow briefly, and residents that occupy a burrow for the entire study period. There were more females than males among the residents and most of the burrow abandonment happened in the early spring, the time when male lizards probably move around to seek matings. Our study described burrow occupancy dynamics, and will assist the conservation management of this endangered species.
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Affiliation(s)
- C. Michael Bull
- School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia
| | - Stephanie S. Godfrey
- School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia
- School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia 6150, Australia
| | - Mehregan Ebrahimi
- School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia
- Department of Biology, Shiraz University, Shiraz 71454, Iran
| | - Aaron L. Fenner
- School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia
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Thompson CK, Wayne AF, Godfrey SS, Thompson RCA. Survival, age estimation and sexual maturity of pouch young of the brush-tailed bettong (Bettongia penicillata) in captivity. Aust Mammalogy 2015. [DOI: 10.1071/am14025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The brush-tailed bettong or woylie (Bettongia penicillata) is a continuous and rapid breeder. However, research investigating the monthly survival and development of young woylies from parturition to parental independence is incomplete. The reproductive biology of eight female woylies was observed for 22 consecutive months within a purpose-built enclosure. Adult female woylies bred continuously and were observed caring for a dependant young 96% of the time. Pouch life of the young was ~102 days, with sexual maturity of female offspring reached as early as 122 days post partum. Crown–rump measurement was an accurate predictor of age for young restricted to the pouch, while skeletal morphometrics were a better predictor of age for ejected pouch young, young-at-foot and subadults. A four-month period between May and August of each study year accounted for 85% of pouch young mortality and 61% of pouch young births where the neonate went on to survive to subadult age. Here we discuss the possibility that pouch young born during the cooler, wetter months of May to August may have an increased chance of survival in the wild, resulting from an increased maternal investment being directed towards the rearing of ‘fitter’ progeny.
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Ebrahimi M, Godfrey SS, Fenner AL, Bull CM. Monitoring predation behaviour of the pygmy bluetongue lizard to decide when conservation intervention is needed. AUST J ZOOL 2015. [DOI: 10.1071/zo15021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Documenting natural behaviours may be an important component of conservation management of threatened species in that deviations from some behaviours may serve as early warning signs of subsequent deteriorating condition and the possible need for intervention. We described predation behaviour of the endangered Australian scincid lizard Tiliqua adelaidensis from 23 burrows by watching video images from cameras over 10 days each month for five months in spring and summer. We observed 341 predation attempts, of which 277 were successful. These lizards predominantly ambush passing prey from their burrow entrance without completely emerging from the burrow. Orthopterans were the major component of their captures; prey captures peaked in November and December. We measured the proportion of unsuccessful foraging attempts, the proportion of foraging attempts that involved full emergence, the mean distance a lizard moved away from the burrow entrance, and the proportion of plant parts in the diet. We suggest that if any of these parameters increase it could indicate the requirement for intervention management. Our study supports the view that behavioural monitoring could be considered as an integral component of any conservation management of endangered animal species.
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Smyth AK, Smee E, Godfrey SS, Crowther M, Phalen D. The use of body condition and haematology to detect widespread threatening processes in sleepy lizards (Tiliqua rugosa) in two agricultural environments. R Soc Open Sci 2014; 1:140257. [PMID: 26064571 PMCID: PMC4448776 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.140257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2014] [Accepted: 11/18/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Agricultural practices, including habitat alteration and application of agricultural chemicals, can impact wildlife resulting in their decline. Determining which of these practices are contributing to declines is essential if the declines are to be reversed. In this study, the health of two geographically separated sleepy lizard (Tiliqua rugosa) populations was compared between a rangeland environment and cropping environment using linear body size index (LBSI) and haematology. Animals in the cropping site were smaller, suggesting genetic differences as the result of geographical isolation. The animals in the cropping site had a lower LBSI and many were experiencing a regenerative anaemia. The anaemia was postulated to be the cause of the low LBSI. The anaemia appeared to be the result of haemolysis and was likely to be caused by exposure to agricultural chemicals applied in the cropping site but not the rangeland site. Elevated white blood cell counts in lizards in the rangeland site suggested that they were experiencing an inflammatory disease of possible ecological significance. Together, these results demonstrate the value of combining physical and haematological parameters when studying the impact of agricultural practices on wildlife. They also show that reptiles may be useful as sentinel species for livestock and humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita K. Smyth
- CSIRO, PMB 2, Glen Osmond, South Australia 5064, Australia
- Future Farm Industries Cooperative Research Centre, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, Western Australia 6009, Australia
- TERN Eco-informatics Facility, The University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
| | - Elizabeth Smee
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - Stephanie S. Godfrey
- School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, GPO 2010, Adelaide, South Australia 5000, Australia
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, Western Australia 6163, Australia
| | - Mathew Crowther
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
| | - David Phalen
- Faculty of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales 2570, Australia
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Thompson CK, Wayne AF, Godfrey SS, Thompson RCA. Temporal and spatial dynamics of trypanosomes infecting the brush-tailed bettong (Bettongia penicillata): a cautionary note of disease-induced population decline. Parasit Vectors 2014; 7:169. [PMID: 24708757 PMCID: PMC3985580 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-7-169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2013] [Accepted: 04/01/2014] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The brush-tailed bettong or woylie (Bettongia penicillata) is on the brink of extinction. Its numbers have declined by 90% since 1999, with their current distribution occupying less than 1% of their former Australian range. Woylies are known to be infected with three different trypanosomes (Trypanosoma vegrandis, Trypanosoma copemani and Trypanosoma sp. H25) and two different strains of T. copemani that vary in virulence. However, the role that these haemoparasites have played during the recent decline of their host is unclear and is part of ongoing investigation. METHODS Woylies were sampled from five locations in southern Western Australia, including two neighbouring indigenous populations, two enclosed (fenced) populations and a captive colony. PCR was used to individually identify the three different trypanosomes from blood and tissues of the host, and to investigate the temporal and spatial dynamics of trypanosome infections. RESULTS The spatial pattern of trypanosome infection varied among the five study sites, with a greater proportion of woylies from the Perup indigenous population being infected with T. copemani than from the neighbouring Kingston indigenous population. For an established infection, T. copemani detection was temporally inconsistent. The more virulent strain of T. copemani appeared to regress at a faster rate than the less virulent strain, with the infection possibly transitioning from the acute to chronic phase. Interspecific competition may also exist between T. copemani and T. vegrandis, where an existing T. vegrandis infection may moderate the sequential establishment of the more virulent T. copemani. CONCLUSION In this study, we provide a possible temporal connection implicating T. copemani as the disease agent linked with the recent decline of the Kingston indigenous woylie population within the Upper Warren region of Western Australia. The chronic association of trypanosomes with the internal organs of its host may be potentially pathogenic and adversely affect their long term fitness and coordination, making the woylie more susceptible to predation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig K Thompson
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, 90 Murdoch University, South Street, Western Australia 6150, Australia.
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Thompson CK, Godfrey SS, Thompson RCA. Trypanosomes of Australian mammals: A review. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2014; 3:57-66. [PMID: 25161902 PMCID: PMC4142263 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2014.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2013] [Revised: 02/27/2014] [Accepted: 02/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Trypanosomes of Australian marsupials, rodents, bats and monotremes are reviewed. 22% of the indigenous terrestrial and arboreal mammals have been screened. Trypanosomes have been identified from 28 mammal species. Eight native trypanosome species have been described from Australian mammals Potential pathogenic risks and threatening biosecurity concerns are discussed.
Approximately 306 species of terrestrial and arboreal mammals are known to have inhabited the mainland and coastal islands of Australia at the time of European settlement in 1788. The exotic Trypanosoma lewisi was the first mammalian trypanosome identified in Australia in 1888, while the first native species, Trypanosoma pteropi, was taxonomically described in 1913. Since these discoveries, about 22% of the indigenous mammalian fauna have been examined during the surveillance of trypanosome biodiversity in Australia, including 46 species of marsupials, 9 rodents, 9 bats and both monotremes. Of those mammals examined, trypanosomes have been identified from 28 host species, with eight native species of Trypanosoma taxonomically described. These native trypanosomes include T. pteropi, Trypanosoma thylacis, Trypanosoma hipposideri, Trypanosoma binneyi, Trypanosoma irwini, Trypanosoma copemani, Trypanosoma gilletti and Trypanosoma vegrandis. Exotic trypanosomes have also been identified from the introduced mammalian fauna of Australia, and include T. lewisi, Trypanosoma melophagium, Trypanosoma theileri, Trypanosoma nabiasi and Trypanosoma evansi. Fortunately, T. evansi was eradicated soon after its introduction and did not establish in Australia. Of these exotic trypanosomes, T. lewisi is the sole representative that has been reported from indigenous Australian mammals; morphological forms were recorded from two indigenous species of rodents (Hydromys chrysogaster and Rattus fuscipes). Numerous Australian marsupial species are potentially at risk from the native T. copemani, which may be chronically pathogenic, while marsupials, rodents and monotremes appear at risk from exotic species, including T. lewisi, Trypanosoma cruzi and T. evansi. This comprehensive review of trypanosome biodiversity in Australia highlights the negative impact of these parasites upon their mammalian hosts, as well as the threatening biosecurity concerns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Craig K Thompson
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, South Street, Western Australia 6150, Australia
| | - Stephanie S Godfrey
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, South Street, Western Australia 6150, Australia
| | - R C Andrew Thompson
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, South Street, Western Australia 6150, Australia
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Wohlfiel CK, Leu ST, Godfrey SS, Bull CM. Testing the robustness of transmission network models to predict ectoparasite loads. One lizard, two ticks and four years. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2014; 2:271-7. [PMID: 24533346 PMCID: PMC3862537 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2013.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2013] [Revised: 09/05/2013] [Accepted: 09/09/2013] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Transmission networks predict the paths of parasite infections around a population. We developed transmission networks for ticks on lizards based on refuge sharing. The networks predicted infestation loads of one tick species but not another. Results suggest different dynamics of transmission for ecologically similar species.
We investigated transmission pathways for two tick species, Bothriocroton hydrosauri and Amblyomma limbatum, among their sleepy lizard (Tiliqua rugosa) hosts in a natural population in South Australia. Our aim was to determine whether a transmission network model continued to predict parasite load patterns effectively under varying ecological conditions. Using GPS loggers we identified the refuge sites used by each lizard on each day. We estimated infectious time windows for ticks that detached from a lizard in a refuge. Time windows were from the time when a detached tick molted and become infective, until the time it died from desiccation while waiting for a new host. Previous research has shown that A. limbatum molts earlier and survives longer than B. hydrosauri. We developed two transmission network models based on these differences in infective time windows for the two tick species. Directed edges were generated in the network if one lizard used a refuge that had previously been used by another lizard within the infectious time window. We used those models to generate values of network node in-strength for each lizard, a measure of how strongly connected an individual is to other lizards in the transmission network, and a prediction of infection risk for each host. The consistent correlations over time between B. hydrosauri infection intensity and network derived infection risk suggest that network models can be robust to environmental variation among years. However, the contrasting lack of consistent correlation in A. limbatum suggests that the utility of the same network models may depend on the specific biology of a parasite species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline K Wohlfiel
- School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Stephan T Leu
- School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Stephanie S Godfrey
- School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, SA, Australia ; School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, 90 South St, Murdoch, WA, Australia
| | - C Michael Bull
- School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, SA, Australia
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Abstract
Mating behaviour in lizards has been well studied, with most reports indicating that the male dominates in initiating the mating, characteristically displaying visually to attract partners. This strategy may be less successful in secretive species that remain in small areas around their refuge, infrequently encountering other conspecifics, like the endangered Australian pygmy bluetongue lizard (Tiliqua adelaidensis). Adult lizards of this species spend most of their time in or at the entrance of single-entrance vertical burrows, built by spiders, in patches of native grassland in South Australia. We filmed the behaviour of nine female lizards for 10 days in each month from October 2011 to February 2012. During filming in October, the austral spring, we observed 43 cases of females making moves away from their burrows, and back along the same path, in that month, that we did not observe among males, or among females in any other month. We observed 27 cases of males approaching female burrows, only in October and mostly along the paths previously taken by the females. Males attempted to mate, and were successful on five occasions. We describe the female movements and suggest that their function is to attract male mating partners.
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Godfrey SS. Networks and the ecology of parasite transmission: A framework for wildlife parasitology. Int J Parasitol Parasites Wildl 2013; 2:235-45. [PMID: 24533342 PMCID: PMC3862525 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijppaw.2013.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2013] [Revised: 08/30/2013] [Accepted: 09/04/2013] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Animal behaviour can generate heterogeneities in parasite transmission. Network models represent these heterogeneities as links (edges) among hosts (nodes). Variety of lifecycles and transmission methods can be represented using networks. Framework for exploring a range of ecological questions about parasite transmission. Challenges remain in their application to wildlife parasitology.
Social network analysis has recently emerged as a popular tool for understanding disease transmission in host populations. Although social networks have most extensively been applied to modelling the transmission of diseases through human populations, more recently the method has been applied to wildlife populations. The majority of examples from wildlife involve modelling the transmission of contagious microbes (mainly viruses and bacteria), normally in context of understanding wildlife disease epidemics. However, a growing number of studies have used networks to explore the ecology of parasite transmission in wildlife populations for a range of endemic parasites representing a diversity of life cycles and transmission methods. This review addresses the application of network models in representing the transmission of parasites with more complex life cycles, and illustrates the way in which this approach can be used to answer ecological questions about the transmission of parasites in wildlife populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie S Godfrey
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch 6150, Western Australia, Australia
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Refsnider JM, Daugherty CH, Godfrey SS, Keall SN, Moore JA, Nelson NJ. Patterns of Nesting Migrations in the Tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus), A Colonially Nesting Island Reptile. HERPETOLOGICA 2013. [DOI: 10.1655/herpetologica-d-00088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Abstract
Although theoretical models consider social networks as pathways for disease transmission, strong empirical support, particularly for indirectly transmitted parasites, is lacking for many wildlife populations. We found multiple genetic strains of the enteric bacterium Salmonella enterica within a population of Australian sleepy lizards (Tiliqua rugosa), and we found that pairs of lizards that shared bacterial genotypes were more strongly connected in the social network than were pairs of lizards that did not. In contrast, there was no significant association between spatial proximity of lizard pairs and shared bacterial genotypes. These results provide strong correlative evidence that these bacteria are transmitted from host to host around the social network, rather than that adjacent lizards are picking up the same bacterial genotype from some common source.
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Affiliation(s)
- C M Bull
- School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia 5001, Australia.
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Abstract
1. Heterogeneity of host behaviour can play an important role in the spread of parasites and pathogens around wildlife populations. Social networks have previously been suggested to represent transmission pathways within a population, but where the dynamics of host-parasite interactions are difficult to observe, networks may also be used to provide insights into transmission processes. 2. Pygmy bluetongue lizards, Tiliqua adelaidensis, occupy individual territories, live exclusively in burrows constructed by spiders in Australian native grasslands and are hosts to a tick, Bothriocroton hydrosauri, and a nematode, Pharyngodon wandillahensis. 3. On five monthly occasions, the locations of all individual lizards in three study plots were used to construct weighted, undirected networks based on proximity of adjacent burrows. 4. The networks were used to explore alternative hypotheses about the spread of each parasite through the population: that stable population members that remained in the same burrow over the study period played a major role in influencing the pattern of infection or that dispersing individuals played a more significant role. 5. For ticks, host individuals that were infected were more connected in the network than uninfected hosts and this relationship remained significant for connections to residents in the population, but not for connections to dispersers. 6. For nematodes, infected and uninfected hosts did not differ in their overall strength of connection in the network, but infected hosts were more connected to dispersers than were uninfected hosts, suggesting that lizards moving across the population are the major agents for the transmission of nematodes. 7. This study shows how network analyses can provide new insights into alternative pathways of parasite spread in wildlife populations, where it is difficult to make direct observations of transmission-related behaviours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aaron L Fenner
- School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide 5001, South Australia, Australia
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Godfrey SS, Moore JA, Nelson NJ, Bull CM. Social network structure and parasite infection patterns in a territorial reptile, the tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus). Int J Parasitol 2010; 40:1575-85. [PMID: 20637210 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2010.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2010] [Revised: 06/03/2010] [Accepted: 06/09/2010] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie S Godfrey
- School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
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Godfrey SS, Bull CM, Nelson NJ. Seasonal and spatial dynamics of ectoparasite infestation of a threatened reptile, the tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus). Med Vet Entomol 2008; 22:374-385. [PMID: 19120965 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2915.2008.00751.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
The conservation of threatened vertebrate species and their threatened parasites requires an understanding of the factors influencing their distribution and dynamics. This is particularly important for species maintained in conservation reserves at high densities, where increased contact among hosts could lead to increased rates of parasitism. The tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus) (Reptilia: Sphenodontia) is a threatened reptile that persists at high densities in forests (approximately 2700 tuatara/ha) and lower densities in pastures and shrubland (< 200 tuatara/ha) on Stephens Island, New Zealand. We investigated the lifecycles and seasonal dynamics of infestation of two ectoparasites (the tuatara tick, Amblyomma sphenodonti, and trombiculid mites, Neotrombicula sp.) in a mark-recapture study in three forest study plots from November 2004 to March 2007, and compared infestation levels among habitat types in March 2006. Tick loads were lowest over summer and peaked from late autumn (May) until early spring (September). Mating and engorgement of female ticks was highest over spring, and larval tick loads subsequently increased in early autumn (March). Nymphal tick loads increased in September, and adult tick loads increased in May. Our findings suggest the tuatara tick has a 2- or 3-year lifecycle. Mite loads were highest over summer and autumn, and peaked in March. Prevalences (proportion of hosts infected) and densities (estimated number of parasites per hectare) of ticks were similar among habitats, but tick loads (parasites per host) were higher in pastures than in forests and shrub. The prevalence and density of mites was higher in forests than in pasture or shrub, but mite loads were similar among habitats. We suggest that a higher density of tuatara in forests may reduce the ectoparasite loads of individuals through a dilution effect. Understanding host-parasite dynamics will help in the conservation management of both the host and its parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- S S Godfrey
- School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia.
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Godfrey SS, Bull CM, Gardner MG. Associations between blood parasite infection and a microsatellite DNA allele in an Australian scincid lizard (Egernia stokesii). Parasitol Res 2006; 100:107-9. [PMID: 16826422 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-006-0254-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2006] [Accepted: 06/01/2006] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
We used blood samples from 175 individuals of the Australian lizard Egernia stokesii to determine infection status of three apicomplexan blood parasites from the genera Hemolivia, Schellackia, and Plasmodium and to determine genotypes at 12 microsatellite DNA loci. We found one significant association between genotype and infection status. For locus Est4, individuals carrying allele 159 had lower prevalence of infection with Hemolivia (14.3% of 28 lizards) than individuals that did not carry the allele (58.4% of 89 lizards). We interpret this as a linkage to a functional gene associated with parasite resistance. We found no evidence among seven lizard populations that the frequency of allele 159 was related to the population prevalence of Hemolivia infection and discuss several explanations of that pattern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie S Godfrey
- School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, South Australia, 5001, Australia
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Godfrey SS, Bull CM, Murray K, Gardner MG. Transmission mode and distribution of parasites among groups of the social lizard Egernia stokesii. Parasitol Res 2006; 99:223-30. [PMID: 16541264 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-005-0120-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2005] [Accepted: 12/19/2005] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
We explored patterns of infection of three apicomplexan blood parasites with different transmission mechanisms in 46 social groups across seven populations of the Australian lizard, Egernia stokesii. There was higher aggregation of infections within social groups for Hemolivia, transmitted by ticks, and Schellackia, either tick-transmitted or directly transmitted from mother to offspring, than for Plasmodium, with more mobile dipteran vectors. Prevalence was not related to group size, proximity to other groups or spatial overlap with adjacent groups for any of the parasites. However, for Hemolivia, groups with higher levels of relatedness among adults had higher parasite prevalence. Living in social groups leads to higher risk of infection for parasites with low transmission mobility. An unanswered question is why so few lizard species tolerate these risks to form stable social aggregations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie S Godfrey
- School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University of South Australia, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, SA 5001, Australia
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