Migratory behaviour predicts greater parasite diversity in ungulates.

ABSTRACT: Long-distance animal movements can increase exposure to diverse parasites, but can also reduce infection risk through escape from contaminated habitats or culling of infected individuals. These mechanisms have been demonstrated within and between populations in single-host/single-parasite interactions, but how long-distance movement behaviours shape parasite diversity and prevalence across host taxa is largely unknown. Using a comparative approach, we analyse the parasite communities of 93 migratory, nomadic and resident ungulate species. We find that migrants have higher parasite species richness than residents or nomads, even after considering other factors known to influence parasite diversity, such as body size and host geographical range area. Further analyses support a novel 'environ

SUBMITTER: Teitelbaum CS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5897646 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature