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Updated: Jun 25, 2026
09:37
Helminth Collection and Identification from Wildlife
Published on: December 14, 2013
Home range and parasite diversity in mammals
Frédéric Bordes1, Serge Morand, Douglas A Kelt
1Institut des Sciences de l'Evolution, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Université de Montpellier 2, Montpellier, France.
The American Naturalist
|February 24, 2009
Summary
Host home range size impacts parasite diversity differently across mammal groups. Larger ranges may decrease parasite richness in carnivores and rodents, contrary to expectations for ungulates.
Area of Science:
- Parasitology
- Ecology
- Zoology
Background:
- Parasite diversity is influenced by host traits and environmental factors.
- Host ranging patterns are crucial for parasite acquisition and dissemination.
- Larger home ranges are hypothesized to increase parasite species richness due to increased exposure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between home range size and helminth parasite diversity in wild mammals.
- To determine if larger home ranges correlate with higher parasite species richness across different mammal groups.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of helminth diversity in wild mammals.
- Correlation analysis between home range area and parasite species richness.
- Statistical correction for host body mass to assess host density.
Main Results:
- An increase in home range area did not lead to increased parasite diversity in ungulates.
- Larger home range sizes were associated with decreased parasite species richness in carnivores and glires.
- Home range size showed a negative correlation with host density in mammals, adjusted for body mass.
Conclusions:
- The relationship between host ranging patterns and parasite diversity is complex and group-specific.
- Contrary to hypotheses, larger home ranges can reduce parasite richness in certain mammal taxa.
- Epidemiological factors, including host density and ranging behavior, significantly shape host-parasite interactions.
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