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West Nile virus: pending crisis for greater sage-grouse |
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| Authors: | David E Naugle Cameron L Aldridge Brett L Walker Todd E Cornish Brendan J Moynahan Matt J Holloran Kimberly Brown Gregory D Johnson Edward T Schmidtmann Richard T Mayer Cecilia Y Kato Marc R Matchett Thomas J Christiansen Walter E Cook Terry Creekmore Roxanne D Falise E Thomas Rinkes Mark S Boyce |
| Institution: | Wildlife Biology Program, College of Forestry and Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA; Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada T6G 2E9; Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory, Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82070, USA; Boone and Crockett Wildlife Conservation Program, College of Forestry and Conservation, University of Montana, Missoula, MT 59812, USA; Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82070, USA; Thunderbird Wildlife Consulting, Inc., Wright, WY 82732, USA; Department of Entomology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717, USA; USDA-ARS, Arthropod-borne Animal Diseases Research Laboratory, University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY 82071 USA; US Fish and Wildlife Service, Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge, Lewistown, MT 59457, USA; Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Green River, WY 82935, USA; Wyoming Game and Fish Department, Laramie, WY 82070, USA; Department of Health, Laramie, WY 82070, USA; Bureau of Land Management, Billings, MT 59107, USA; Bureau of Land Management, Lander, WY 82520, USA |
| Abstract: | Scientists have feared that emerging infectious diseases could complicate efforts to conserve rare and endangered species, but quantifying impacts has proven difficult until now. We report unexpected impacts of West Nile virus (WNv) on radio‐marked greater sage‐grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus), a species that has declined 45–80% and is endangered in Canada and under current consideration for federal listing in the US. We show that WNv reduced late‐summer survival an average of 25% in four radio‐marked populations in the western US and Canada. Serum from 112 sage‐grouse collected after the outbreak show that none had antibodies, suggesting that they lack resistance. The spread of WNv represents a significant new stressor on sage‐grouse and probably other at‐risk species. While managing habitat might lessen its impact on sage‐grouse populations, WNv has left wildlife and public health officials scrambling to address surface water and vector control issues in western North America. |
| Keywords: | Centrocercus urophasianus emerging infectious disease endangered species greater sage-grouse mosquito population decline survival vector surveillance West Nile virus |