Tag: Parasites

#StoryBehindThePaper, Guest post

Combined analysis of primate and parasite traits reveals new insights on ecological networks

This blog post is provided by James Herrera, Ph.D., Duke Lemur Center SAVA Conservation Initiative and tells the #StoryBehindthePaper for the paper “Predicting primate-parasite associations using exponentional random graph models”, which was recently published in Journal of Animal Ecology. In their paper they show that large primates in warm climates and sharing the same biogeographic region have more parasites than small species in cool, dry climates. … Continue reading Combined analysis of primate and parasite traits reveals new insights on ecological networks

Unknown's avatarBeth PrestonLeave a comment
#StoryBehindThePaper, Guest post

Parasites are just the strings: Microbes as the real puppet masters in phenotypic manipulations of parasitized animals

This blog post is provided by Priscila Salloum, Fátima Jorge and Robert Poulin and tells the #StoryBehindThePaper for the paper “Inter-individual variation in parasite manipulation of host phenotype: a role for parasite microbiomes?“, which was recently published in the Journal of Animal Ecology. They explore how differences in the microbiome of parasites might impact the way that those parasites can manipulate their hosts’ behaviour. Many parasites … Continue reading Parasites are just the strings: Microbes as the real puppet masters in phenotypic manipulations of parasitized animals

Unknown's avatarBeth PrestonLeave a comment
Announcements

International Women’s Day 2021

This International Women’s Day we look back over the blogs from the last year, and highlight four of our favourites written by women. Celebrate women in science, and the awesome work they’ve done by checking out our favourites below, as well as a brief profile of each of the authors and links to find more of their work. Tamara Layden Tamara’s blog post Hidden, but … Continue reading International Women’s Day 2021

Unknown's avatarBeth PrestonLeave a comment
Guest post

Determinants of micro- and macroparasite diversity in birds: the fruits of comparing apples and oranges

Identifying the factors shaping variation in parasite diversity among host species is crucial to understand wildlife diseases. A recent paper in Journal of Animal Ecology investigated the role of host life history and ecology in explaining the species richness of micro- and macro-parasites in birds world-wide. Lead author Dr Jorge Sanchez Gutierrez explains more about the study. The phrase “comparing apples and oranges” is often … Continue reading Determinants of micro- and macroparasite diversity in birds: the fruits of comparing apples and oranges

Unknown's avatarSarah MarleyLeave a comment
Guest post

Parasitism and Host Diet Quality in Natural Populations

Parasite-host relationships can be amazingly complex. Parasites can even alter host diets. But how exactly does this work? Dr Charlotte Narr, a Research Scientist at Colorado State University’s Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory, recently published an article on just this topic in the Journal of Animal Ecology.  When you’re sick, your relationship with food changes. You might lose your appetite or have trouble digesting certain foods. Pregnancy … Continue reading Parasitism and Host Diet Quality in Natural Populations

Unknown's avatarSarah MarleyLeave a comment
Guest post

Guppies only avoid infected shoalmates when they pose the highest risk of transmission

Jess Stephenson is a new Assistant Professor at the University of Pittsburgh, USA. She is interested in factors affecting the spread of infectious diseases through natural populations, and how these ecological factors might affect the evolution of both host and parasite. Here, she describes her most recent paper on the role of host behaviour in disease transmission and shares the #StoryBehindThePaper. Across animal taxa, individuals … Continue reading Guppies only avoid infected shoalmates when they pose the highest risk of transmission

Unknown's avatarSarah MarleyLeave a comment
#StoryBehindThePaper, Guest post

Frogs and Herbicides: A Gut Feeling

Dr. Sarah Knutie led a study to explore whether a commonly-used herbicide affects the gut microbes of frogs and if the gut microbes could mediate the effect of the herbicide on infection risk by the amphibian chytrid fungus. She conducted the work as a Post-doctoral Researcher at the University of South Florida and is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of Connecticut. Here, she … Continue reading Frogs and Herbicides: A Gut Feeling

Unknown's avatarSarah MarleyLeave a comment