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Disease-mediated ecosystem services: Pathogens, plants, and people
Rachel E Paseka1, Lauren A White2, Dedmer B Van de Waal3
1Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN, USA.
Trends in Ecology & Evolution
|June 20, 2020
Summary
Pathogens infecting primary producers significantly impact ecosystem services. Understanding these roles is crucial for predicting ecosystem responses to global change and informing environmental policy.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Environmental Science
- Pathogen Biology
Background:
- Pathogens are widespread in ecosystems but their impact on ecosystem services is underappreciated.
- Primary producers (plants, algae, cyanobacteria) underpin critical ecosystem services.
- Infections in primary producers can disrupt provisioning, regulating, and cultural services.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of pathogens in mediating ecosystem services provided by primary producers.
- To explore how pathogen infections may alter ecosystem responses to global change.
- To identify research gaps and propose future research directions.
Main Methods:
- Literature synthesis and review of existing studies on pathogens and ecosystem services.
- Analysis of theoretical frameworks and empirical data.
- Identification of knowledge deficits and research needs.
Main Results:
- Pathogens significantly influence ecosystem services by affecting primary producers.
- Infection dynamics can lead to unpredictable ecosystem changes under global change scenarios.
- There is a substantial lack of research integrating pathogen impacts with ecosystem service provision.
Conclusions:
- Pathogens play a critical, yet often overlooked, role in ecosystem service regulation.
- Future research should focus on integrative theory and cross-system studies to understand pathogen-ecosystem interactions.
- Incorporating pathogen dynamics into ecological models is essential for effective environmental policy and management.
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