Biotic interactions between parasitic and non-parasitic species (e.g hosts, vectors, and others) are essential for a range of ecosystem processes, including the mediation of disease transmission between species in a community. When and where parasitic diseases directly affect humans and domestic animals, the reduction transmission risk by non-parasitic species can be considered an ecosystem service. Globally, and in tropical regions in particular, macroparasite (e.g. helminth) infections impose significant economic burdens through diseases in both humans and their domestic animals. However, little is known about how environmental changes affect the biotic interactions important for the transmission of helminths in ecosystems, or the provision of disease regulation ecosystem services.
Dung beetles principally feed on the feces of wild and domestic mammals - a relationship that implies interactions with at least 18 families of helminths. These interactions result in both both positive and negative influences for successful parasite transmission. Dung beetles are negatively affected by the conversion of native habitats in open agricultural landscapes, and preliminary evidence suggests that these community-level responses translate into divergent outcomes for parasite transmission. However, overall disease transmission also depends on the dynamics of contact between definitive hosts and infective stages of the parasite. In the helminth - dung beetle - domestic dog system, contact between dogs and infected beetles is mediated by the frequency and duration of forest fragment occupancy by dogs. This use is influenced by both environmental factors (including amount of remaining forest cover) and management practices adopted by dog owners.
The overall objective of this sub-project is to investigate the effect of habitat loss and management practices on the provision of disease-regulation services, in order to fill several key knowledge gaps related to the transmission and control of economically important parasitic disease in the tropics. To do this, we will combine observational and experimental approaches to quantify how multiple components of a model transmission system (including parasites (helminths), final hosts (domestic dogs) and intermediate hosts (dung beetles), each respond to habitat loss and human management practices.
* Pictures have links to detailed descriptions of sub-projects.
Dung beetles principally feed on the feces of wild and domestic mammals - a relationship that implies interactions with at least 18 families of helminths. These interactions result in both both positive and negative influences for successful parasite transmission. Dung beetles are negatively affected by the conversion of native habitats in open agricultural landscapes, and preliminary evidence suggests that these community-level responses translate into divergent outcomes for parasite transmission. However, overall disease transmission also depends on the dynamics of contact between definitive hosts and infective stages of the parasite. In the helminth - dung beetle - domestic dog system, contact between dogs and infected beetles is mediated by the frequency and duration of forest fragment occupancy by dogs. This use is influenced by both environmental factors (including amount of remaining forest cover) and management practices adopted by dog owners.
The overall objective of this sub-project is to investigate the effect of habitat loss and management practices on the provision of disease-regulation services, in order to fill several key knowledge gaps related to the transmission and control of economically important parasitic disease in the tropics. To do this, we will combine observational and experimental approaches to quantify how multiple components of a model transmission system (including parasites (helminths), final hosts (domestic dogs) and intermediate hosts (dung beetles), each respond to habitat loss and human management practices.
* Pictures have links to detailed descriptions of sub-projects.
Fernando da Silva
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Nichar Gregory
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Liz Nichols
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Renata Pardini
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