Abiotic and biotic factors jointly influence the contact and environmental transmission of a generalist pathogen.

ABSTRACT: The joint influence of abiotic and biotic factors is important for understanding the transmission of generalist pathogens. Abiotic factors such as temperature can directly influence pathogen persistence in the environment and will also affect biotic factors, such as host community composition and abundance. At intermediate spatial scales, the effects of temperature, community composition, and host abundance are expected to contribute to generalist pathogen transmission. We use a simple transmission model to explain and predict how host community composition, host abundance, and environmental pathogen persistence times can independently and jointly influence transmission. Our transmission model clarifies how abiotic and biotic factors can synergistically support the transmission of a pathog

SUBMITTER: Suh DC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11329300 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature