Climate,host phylogeny and the connectivity of host communities govern regional parasite assembly |
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| Authors: | Nicholas J Clark Sonya M Clegg Katerina Sam William Goulding Bonny Koane Konstans Wells |
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| Institution: | 1. School of Veterinary Science, University of Queensland, Gatton, Qld, Australia;2. Edward Grey Institute of Field Ornithology, Department of Zoology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK;3. Biology Centre CAS, Faculty of Science, Institute of Entomology and University of South Bohemia, Branisovska, Ceske Budejovice, Czech Republic;4. The Landscape Ecology and Conservation Group, School of Earth and Environmental Science, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld, Australia;5. Biodiversity and Geosciences Program, Queensland Museum, South Brisbane, Qld, Australia;6. The New Guinea Binatang Research Centre, Madang, Papua New Guinea;7. Environmental Futures Research Institute, School of Environment, Griffith University, Nathan, Qld, Australia |
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| Abstract: | Aim Identifying barriers that govern parasite community assembly and parasite invasion risk is critical to understand how shifting host ranges impact disease emergence. We studied regional variation in the phylogenetic compositions of bird species and their blood parasites (Plasmodium and Haemoproteus spp.) to identify barriers that shape parasite community assembly. Location Australasia and Oceania. Methods We used a data set of parasite infections from >10,000 host individuals sampled across 29 bioregions. Hierarchical models and matrix regressions were used to assess the relative influences of interspecies (host community connectivity and local phylogenetic distinctiveness), climate and geographic barriers on parasite local distinctiveness and composition. Results Parasites were more locally distinct (co‐occurred with distantly related parasites) when infecting locally distinct hosts, but less distinct (co‐occurred with closely related parasites) in areas with increased host diversity and community connectivity (a proxy for parasite dispersal potential). Turnover and the phylogenetic symmetry of parasite communities were jointly driven by host turnover, climate similarity and geographic distance. Main conclusions Interspecies barriers linked to host phylogeny and dispersal shape parasite assembly, perhaps by limiting parasite establishment or local diversification. Infecting hosts that co‐occur with few related species decreases a parasite's likelihood of encountering related competitors, perhaps increasing invasion potential but decreasing diversification opportunity. While climate partially constrains parasite distributions, future host range expansions that spread distinct parasites and diminish barriers to host shifting will likely be key drivers of parasite invasions. |
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| Keywords: | community assembly host shifting host specificity interspecies barriers parasite invasion
Plasmodium
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