Ecoimmunology at spatial scales.

Area of Science:

• Ecoimmunology and macroecology
• Wildlife disease ecology
• Spatial ecology

Background:

• Ecoimmunology traditionally focuses on individual variation in immune function, often linked to resource allocation trade-offs.
• Limited research addresses how habitat and population-level factors drive spatial patterns in wildlife immunity.
• A new framework, macroimmunology, is proposed to integrate ecoimmunology and macroecology.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a framework, macroimmunology, for understanding spatial variation in wildlife immune phenotypes.
• To identify key habitat-level drivers influencing immune function across populations.
• To highlight challenges and future directions for macroimmunological research.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature review and critical assessment of existing ecoimmunology studies.
• Identification of habitat features influencing immune function at spatial scales.
• Analysis of research design and statistical methods for spatial inferences.

Main Results:

• Three key habitat features influencing wildlife immunity were identified: parasite pressure, abiotic/biotic factors, and anthropogenic changes.
• Existing research often lacks spatial replication and appropriate statistical methods for spatial dependence.
• A robust body of literature for macroimmunological synthesis is not yet available.

Conclusions:

• Macroimmunology offers a powerful framework to explain spatial patterns in wildlife immune defense.
• Addressing methodological limitations in current research is crucial for advancing macroimmunology.
• This review provides a foundation for future studies predicting wildlife disease dynamics through spatial immunity patterns.