scholarly journals Host community assembly modifies the relationship between host and parasite richness

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fletcher W. Halliday ◽  
Robert W. Heckman ◽  
Peter A. Wilfahrt ◽  
Charles E. Mitchell

AbstractHost and parasite richness are generally positively correlated, but the stability of this relationship during community assembly remains untested. The composition of host communities can alter parasite transmission, and the relationship between host and parasite richness is sensitive to parasite transmission. Thus, changes in composition during host community assembly could strengthen or weaken the relationship between host and parasite richness. Host community assembly, in turn, can be driven by many processes, including resource enrichment. To test the hypothesis that host community assembly can alter the relationship between host and parasite richness, we experimentally crossed host diversity and resource supply to hosts, then allowed communities to assemble. As previously shown, initial host diversity and resource supply determined the trajectory of host community assembly, altering post-assembly host species richness, richness-independent host phylogenetic diversity, and colonization by exotic host species. Throughout community assembly, host richness predicted parasite richness. As predicted, this effect was moderated by exotic abundance: communities dominated by exotic species exhibited a stronger positive relationship between post-assembly host and parasite richness. Ultimately, these results suggest that, by modulating parasite transmission, community assembly can modify the relationship between host and parasite richness, providing a novel mechanism to explain contingencies in this relationship.

2019 ◽  
Vol 286 (1902) ◽  
pp. 20190260 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pieter T. J. Johnson ◽  
Dana M. Calhoun ◽  
Tawni Riepe ◽  
Travis McDevitt-Galles ◽  
Janet Koprivnikar

Debates over the relationship between biodiversity and disease dynamics underscore the need for a more mechanistic understanding of how changes in host community composition influence parasite transmission. Focusing on interactions between larval amphibians and trematode parasites, we experimentally contrasted the effects of host richness and species composition to identify the individual and joint contributions of both parameters on the infection levels of three trematode species. By combining experimental approaches with field surveys from 147 ponds, we further evaluated how richness effects differed between randomized and realistic patterns of species loss (i.e. community disassembly). Our results indicated that community-level changes in infection levels were owing to host species composition, rather than richness. However, when composition patterns mirrored empirical observations along a natural assembly gradient, each added host species reduced infection success by 12–55%. No such effects occurred when assemblages were randomized. Mechanistically, these patterns were due to non-random host species assembly/disassembly: while highly competent species predominated in low diversity systems, less susceptible hosts became progressively more common as richness increased. These findings highlight the potential for combining information on host traits and assembly patterns to forecast diversity-mediated changes in multi-host disease systems.


2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (9) ◽  
pp. 4854-4867 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fletcher W. Halliday ◽  
Robert W. Heckman ◽  
Peter A. Wilfahrt ◽  
Charles E. Mitchell

2019 ◽  
Vol 286 (1917) ◽  
pp. 20192614
Author(s):  
John E. Vinson ◽  
Andrew W. Park

While vector-borne parasite transmission often operates via generalist-feeding vectors facilitating cross-species transmission in host communities, theory describing the relationship between host species diversity and parasite invasion in these systems is underdeveloped. Host community composition and abundance vary across space and time, generating opportunities for parasite invasion. To explore how host community variation can modify parasite invasion potential, we develop a model for vector-borne parasite transmission dynamics that includes a host community of arbitrary richness and species' abundance. To compare invasion potential across communities, we calculate the community basic reproductive ratio of the parasite. We compare communities comprising a set of host species to their subsets, which allows for flexible scenario building including the introduction of novel host species and species loss. We allow vector abundance to scale with, or be independent of, community size, capturing regulation by feeding opportunities and non-host effects such as limited oviposition sites. Motivated by equivocal data relating host species competency to abundance, we characterize plausible host communities via phenomenological relationships between host species abundance and competency. We identify an underappreciated mechanism whereby changes to communities simultaneously alter average competency and the vector to host ratio and demonstrate that the interaction can profoundly influence invasion potential.


2017 ◽  
Vol 284 (1865) ◽  
pp. 20171340 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fletcher W. Halliday ◽  
Robert W. Heckman ◽  
Peter A. Wilfahrt ◽  
Charles E. Mitchell

Theory predicts that increasing biodiversity will dilute the risk of infectious diseases under certain conditions and will amplify disease risk under others. Yet, few empirical studies demonstrate amplification. This contrast may occur because few studies have considered the multivariate nature of disease risk, which includes richness and abundance of parasites with different transmission modes. By combining a multivariate statistical model developed for biodiversity–ecosystem–multifunctionality with an extensive field manipulation of host (plant) richness, composition and resource supply to hosts, we reveal that (i) host richness alone could not explain most changes in disease risk, and (ii) shifting host composition allowed disease amplification, depending on parasite transmission mode. Specifically, as predicted from theory, the effect of host diversity on parasite abundance differed for microbes (more density-dependent transmission) and insects (more frequency-dependent transmission). Host diversity did not influence microbial parasite abundance, but nearly doubled insect parasite abundance, and this amplification effect was attributable to variation in host composition. Parasite richness was reduced by resource addition, but only in species-rich host communities. Overall, this study demonstrates that multiple drivers, related to both host community and parasite characteristics, can influence disease risk. Furthermore, it provides a framework for evaluating multivariate disease risk in other systems.


2020 ◽  
pp. 221-242
Author(s):  
T. Alex Perkins ◽  
Jason R. Rohr

Early theoretical developments in disease ecology overwhelmingly focused on interactions between a single pathogen and a single host. Today, it is well understood that numerous pathogens circulate among multiple host species, that some pathogens are comprised of many distinct strains, and that community ecology offers important perspectives for gaining insight into the inner workings of these complex ecological systems. Here, we focus on two topics that have received intense focus in theoretical investigations of multi-host and multi-pathogen systems, respectively. First, we review developments in a rather contentious debate around relationships between host diversity and disease. The current state of theory suggests that divergent views can be reconciled by considering where along a continuum of host diversity a given system lies, which is thought to affect how community assembly processes shape host species composition and overall abundance. Second, we review developments surrounding coexistence and other outcomes in communities of interacting pathogens. Ultimately, coexistence in pathogen communities can be explained by the same mechanisms that explain coexistence in any community, yet certain ways in which pathogens interact make the tailoring of theory specific to this context well justified. Despite a rich literature on host and pathogen diversity, there has been remarkably little theoretical work at their interface. To stimulate fresh developments to theories of diversity in disease ecology, we highlight aspects of ecological theory that may have been underutilized in theoretical work on host and pathogen diversity to date.


Microbiome ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Weibing Xun ◽  
Yunpeng Liu ◽  
Wei Li ◽  
Yi Ren ◽  
Wu Xiong ◽  
...  

Abstract Background The relationship between biodiversity and soil microbiome stability remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated the impacts of bacterial phylogenetic diversity on the functional traits and the stability of the soil microbiome. Communities differing in phylogenetic diversity were generated by inoculating serially diluted soil suspensions into sterilized soil, and the stability of the microbiome was assessed by detecting community variations under various pH levels. The taxonomic features and potential functional traits were detected by DNA sequencing. Results We found that bacterial communities with higher phylogenetic diversity tended to be more stable, implying that microbiomes with higher biodiversity are more resistant to perturbation. Functional gene co-occurrence network and machine learning classification analyses identified specialized metabolic functions, especially “nitrogen metabolism” and “phosphonate and phosphinate metabolism,” as keystone functions. Further taxonomic annotation found that keystone functions are carried out by specific bacterial taxa, including Nitrospira and Gemmatimonas, among others. Conclusions This study provides new insights into our understanding of the relationships between soil microbiome biodiversity and ecosystem stability and highlights specialized metabolic functions embedded in keystone taxa that may be essential for soil microbiome stability.


Author(s):  
M.I. Rosas-Jaco ◽  
S.X. Almeraya-Quintero ◽  
L.G. Guajardo-Hernández

Objective: Tourism has become the main engine of economic, social and environmental development in several countries, so promoting tourism awareness among tourists and the local population should be a priority. The present study aims to suggest a status of the research carried out on the topic of tourism awareness. Design / methodology / approach: The type of analysis is through a retrospective and exploratory bibliometric study. The analysis materials were scientific articles and a training manual published between 2000 and 2020, registered by Scopus, Emerald insight and Dialnet, using “tourism awareness” as the keyword. Results: When considering the three senses in which tourism awareness ought to operate, it is concluded that studies are more focused on the relationship and contact of the host community with the tourist. It is observed that four out of six articles in this sense consider that education, training, and government policies around tourism awareness should be developed in a better way in the destinations, in order to be an element that contributes to the development of communities and reduces poverty in developing countries. Study limitations / implications: It is considered a limitation not to include thesis dissertations. Findings / conclusions: It is necessary to make visible the importance of tourism awareness as a local development strategy for communities, in addition to including tourism awareness on the part of tourists.


Author(s):  
A.M. Zetty Akhtar ◽  
M.M. Rahman ◽  
K. Kadirgama ◽  
M.A. Maleque

This paper presents the findings of the stability, thermal conductivity and viscosity of CNTs (doped with 10 wt% graphene)- TiO2 hybrid nanofluids under various concentrations. While the usage of cutting fluid in machining operation is necessary for removing the heat generated at the cutting zone, the excessive use of it could lead to environmental and health issue to the operators. Therefore, the minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) to replace the conventional flooding was introduced. The MQL method minimises the usage of cutting fluid as a step to achieve a cleaner environment and sustainable machining. However, the low thermal conductivity of the base fluid in the MQL system caused the insufficient removal of heat generated in the cutting zone. Addition of nanoparticles to the base fluid was then introduced to enhance the performance of cutting fluids. The ethylene glycol used as the base fluid, titanium dioxide (TiO2) and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) nanoparticle mixed to produce nanofluids with concentrations of 0.02 to 0.1 wt.% with an interval of 0.02 wt%. The mixing ratio of TiO2: CNTs was 90:10 and ratio of SDBS (surfactant): CNTs was 10:1. The stability of nanofluid checked using observation method and zeta potential analysis. The thermal conductivity and viscosity of suspension were measured at a temperature range between 30˚C to 70˚C (with increment of 10˚C) to determine the relationship between concentration and temperature on nanofluid’s thermal physical properties. Based on the results obtained, zeta potential value for nanofluid range from -50 to -70 mV indicates a good stability of the suspension. Thermal conductivity of nanofluid increases as an increase of temperature and enhancement ratio is within the range of 1.51 to 4.53 compared to the base fluid. Meanwhile, the viscosity of nanofluid shows decrements with an increase of the temperature remarks significant advantage in pumping power. The developed nanofluid in this study found to be stable with enhanced thermal conductivity and decrease in viscosity, which at once make it possible to be use as nanolubricant in machining operation.


Author(s):  
З.С. САНОВА

В статье представлены материалы о взаимосвязи продолжительности продуктивного использования коров с характеристикой устойчивости к деградации, с возрастом отела и удоем. В исследованной, разнородной по происхождению, группе животных для прогноза продуктивного периода коров, обусловленного устойчивостью к деградации и возрастом первого отела, пригодно уравнение регрессии, аргументами в котором являются индекс устойчивости, возраст первого отела в первой и второй степенях. Коэффициент корреляции межу предсказанными значениями продуктивного периода и его фактическими величинами в I группе составляет 0,502, во II - 0,604. При этом крайние варианты прогнозируются со статистическими ошибками 5 мес при оценке индекса устойчивости по 2 лактациям и 4,1 мес по 3, а средние варианты, соответственно, 1,6 и 1,51 мес. Индекс устойчивости к процессу старения является важной характеристикой биологических особенностей коров, определяющий их продуктивное долголетие. Его оценка по первым 2 и 3 лактациям имеет прямолинейную связь с продуктивным периодом (r=0,4109 и r=0,5270), соответственно. Зависимость продуктивного периода от возраста первого отела криволинейная — с увеличением возраста первого отела сокращается срок продуктивного использования, при возрасте первого отела более 1400 дней срок продуктивного использования колеблется от 1,33 до 1,41 лактации. Коэффициент корреляции между этими характеристиками коров составляет - 0,2164 в I и - 0,2620 во II группах. The article presents materials about the relationship of the duration of productive use of cows with the characteristic of resistance to degradation, with the age of calving and milk yield. In the studied group of animals, which is heterogeneous in origin, the regression equation is suitable for predicting the productive period of cows due to resistance to degradation and the age of the first calving, the arguments of which are the stability index, the age of the first calving in the first and second degrees. The correlation coefficient between the predicted values of the productive period and its actual values in group I is 0.502, in group II - 0.604. At the same time, the extreme variants are predicted with statistical errors of 5 months when evaluating the stability index for 2 lactations and 4.1 months for 3, and the average variants, respectively, are 1.6 and 1.51 months. The index of resistance to the aging process is an important characteristic of the biological characteristics of cows, which determines their productive longevity. Its estimate for the first 2 and 3 lactations has a direct relationship with the productive period (r=0.4109 and r=0.5270), respectively. The dependence of the productive period age at first calving curvilinear with increasing age at first calving reduces the time to productive use, while age at first calving of more than 1400 days, the period of productive use ranges from 1.33 to 1.41 lactation. The correlation coefficient between these characteristics of cows is-0.2164 in I and-0.2620 in II groups.


Author(s):  
Fesenko, H.

Purpose. Increasing the uniformity of distribution of mineral fertilizers and other bulk materials due to the stability of their feed from the body to the spreading working bodies using the top feeder. Methods. The following methods are used to achieve this aim: the method of comparing the differences between individual groups of fertilizers, the method of analyzing the properties of a new technical system, the method of functional inventiveness, and the methods of theoretical and analytical mechanics. Results. The traction body of the conveyor of the upper feed of the body fat body machine for mineral fertilizers and other bulk materials was substantiated and the relationship between the height of its scrapers and the distance between them was established, as well as the nature of the mineral fertilizer pressure on the curvilinear wall of the body. In addition, the design of the advanced body fertilizer spreader is justified, which ensures a stable flow of fertilizers from the body due to the improvement of the top feeder. Conclusions. Because of the conducted researches, the advantages of machines equipped with top feeder are found. They create the conditions for the forced feeding mineral fertilizers and other loose materials from the container to the distribution bodies, which is a prerequisite for their evenness on the surface. With this, the imperfection of known machines with the top feeder constrains their introduction into agricultural production. On this account, a more thoroughly constructed solution of the body feeder of the top feed is substantiated, in which the conveyor provides a stable supply of fertilizers from the body with reduced energy consumption during operation. Keywords: analysis, feed, upper device, conveyor, stability, fertilizers, flow ability, body.


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