PARENT SESSION
Organized Oral Session 20: Disease in ecosystems: Reciprocal interactions between pathogens and ecosystems
Organizer(s): F Keesing, RS Ostfeld, and V Eviner
Tuesday, August 9, 1:30 PM - 5:00 PM, Meeting Room 510b, Level 5, Palais des congrès de Montréal
Non-native animal pathogens as indicators of ecosystem condition.
Fallon, Sylvia*,1, Meyerson, Laura2, 1 American Association for the Advancement of Science, Washington, DC, USA2 The Heinz Center, Washington, DC, USA
ABSTRACT- The distribution of disease organisms is of increasing concern not only for public health, but for livestock industries as well as our natural habitats. Non-native animal pathogens can be especially problematic since naive host populations are often more susceptible to infection, and novel surroundings may alter disease dynamics in ways that favor the spread of introduced pathogenic organisms. Here we present a national level ecological indicator based on the distribution of non-native animal pathogens. Using the presence of disease organisms on National Wildlife Refuges, we demonstrate how a relatively simple measure (the percent area with one or more animal pathogens) can provide a useful indication of ecosystem condition in terms of the extent and number of introduced animal pathogens. Implementation of this indicator at a national level, however, will require a coordinated effort of disease surveillance and monitoring.
Key words: disease, invasive species, indicators