Phenological synchrony shapes pathology in host-parasite systems
Travis McDevitt-Galles1, Wynne E Moss1, Dana M Calhoun1,2
1Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA.
Proceedings. Biological Sciences
|January 23, 2020
Summary
Climate change impacts host-parasite interactions. Phenological synchrony between the amphibian Pseudacris regilla and Ribeiroia ondatrae increased disease severity and limb malformations in the Bay Area.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Parasitology
- Climate Change Biology
Background:
- Climate shifts alter species interactions, affecting host-parasite dynamics.
- Phenological shifts in hosts or parasites can change interaction likelihood and disease outcomes.
- Understanding these changes is crucial for predicting ecological impacts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To quantify the impact of phenological synchrony between the amphibian host Pseudacris regilla and the parasite Ribeiroia ondatrae on infection prevalence, parasite load, and host pathology.
- To compare disease outcomes in areas with high versus low phenological synchrony.
- To highlight the role of climate-driven phenological shifts in host-parasite interactions.
Main Methods:
- Tracking Pseudacris regilla hosts and Ribeiroia ondatrae infections throughout development.
- Comparing host-parasite phenological synchrony in low-elevation (San Francisco Bay Area) and high-elevation (Southern Cascades) regions.
- Quantifying infection prevalence, parasite load, and host pathology, specifically severe limb malformations.
Main Results:
- High phenological synchrony (Bay Area) resulted in a 33% higher probability of severe limb malformations per established parasite compared to low synchrony (Mt Lassen).
- Hosts in the Bay Area exhibited up to a 50% higher risk of pathology, even when controlling for infection load.
- Host pathology was a joint product of infection load and phenological synchrony.
Conclusions:
- Phenological synchrony significantly modulates host-parasite interactions and disease outcomes.
- Climate change-induced shifts in phenology can exacerbate disease severity in wildlife populations.
- Disease outcomes are sensitive to the interplay between infection dynamics and temporal ecological matching.
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