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Disease and the dynamics of extinction
1Griffith School of Environment, Griffith University, Brisbane 4111, Australia. h.mccallum@griffith.edu.au
Summary
Infectious diseases like amphibian chytridiomycosis and Tasmanian devil facial tumour disease (DFTD) threaten extinctions. Research explores disease-induced extinction processes and management strategies, including evolving host resistance.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Conservation Biology
- Pathology
Background:
- Infectious diseases can drive host population extinctions, especially with reservoir species or frequency-dependent transmission.
- Evidence for historical disease-induced extinctions is challenging to obtain.
- Amphibian chytridiomycosis and Tasmanian devil facial tumour disease (DFTD) in Australia exemplify current extinction threats from novel infectious diseases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the processes of disease-induced extinction using two distinct Australian examples.
- To explore potential management strategies for emerging infectious diseases threatening biodiversity.
- To understand the role of anthropogenic changes in increasing disease emergence.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of two emerging infectious diseases: amphibian chytridiomycosis and DFTD.
- Examination of disease transmission dynamics (host-specific, density-dependent, or independent).
- Review of current and proposed management strategies, including isolation and evolution of host resistance/tolerance.
Main Results:
- DFTD is host-specific with weak density-dependent transmission, posing a significant extinction risk.
- Amphibian chytridiomycosis has a broad host range but varies in pathogenicity.
- Current management focuses on isolation; research into accelerating host resistance/tolerance is ongoing.
Conclusions:
- Emerging infectious diseases pose a critical threat to biodiversity, exacerbated by anthropogenic factors.
- Effective management requires understanding disease ecology and developing proactive strategies.
- Accelerating host evolutionary responses is a key area for future conservation efforts.
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