Sarcoptic mange breaks up bottom-up regulation of body condition in a large herbivore population
Carvalho, João (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge)
Granados Torres, José Enrique (Espacio Natural de Sierra Nevada)
López Olvera, Jorge R. (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals)
Cano-Manuel, Francisco Javier (Espacio Natural Sierra Nevada)
Pérez Jiménez, Jesús María (Espacio Natural Sierra Nevada)
Fandos, Paulino (Parque Natural Sierras de Cazorla, Segura y Las Villas)
Soriguer, Ramón C. (Estación Biológica de Doñana)
Velarde, Roser (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge)
Fonseca, Carlos (Universidade de Aveiro. Centro de Estudos do Ambiente e do Mar)
Ráez-Bravo, Arián (Espacio Natural Sierra Nevada)
Espinosa, José (Espacio Natural Sierra Nevada)
Pettorelli, Nathalie (Institute of Zoology. Zoological Society of London)
Serrano Ferron, Emmanuel (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. Servei d'Ecopatologia de Fauna Salvatge)

Date:	2015
Abstract:	Background: Both parasitic load and resource availability can impact individual fitness, yet little is known about the interplay between these parameters in shaping body condition, a key determinant of fitness in wild mammals inhabiting seasonal environments. Methods: Using partial least square regressions (PLSR), we explored how temporal variation in climatic conditions, vegetation dynamics and sarcoptic mange (Sarcoptes scabiei) severity impacted body condition of 473 Iberian ibexes (Capra pyrenaica) harvested between 1995 and 2008 in the highly seasonal Alpine ecosystem of Sierra Nevada Natural Space (SNNS), southern Spain. Results: Bottom-up regulation was found to only occur in healthy ibexes; the condition of infected ibexes was independent of primary productivity and snow cover. No link between ibex abundance and ibex body condition could be established when only considering infected individuals. Conclusions: The pernicious effects of mange on Iberian ibexes overcome the benefits of favorable environmental conditions. Even though the increase in primary production exerts a positive effect on the body condition of healthy ibexes, the scabietic individuals do not derive any advantage from increased resource availability. Further applied research coupled with continuous sanitary surveillance are needed to address remaining knowledge gaps associated with the transmission dynamics and management of sarcoptic mange in free-living populations.
Grants:	Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia CGL2004-03171 Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia CGL2012-40043-C02-01 Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia CGL-40043-C02-02
Note:	Altres ajuts: INIA/RTA2009-00114-00-00
Note:	Altres ajuts: RNM-6400
Note:	Altres ajuts: CESAM/UID/AMB/50017/2013
Rights:	Aquest document està subjecte a una llicència d'ús Creative Commons. Es permet la reproducció total o parcial, la distribució, la comunicació pública de l'obra i la creació d'obres derivades, fins i tot amb finalitats comercials, sempre i quan es reconegui l'autoria de l'obra original.
Language:	Anglès
Document:	Article ; recerca ; Versió publicada
Subject:	Veterinària ; Capra pyrenaica ; Host-parasite relationships ; Iberian Ibex ; Density-dependence ; Remote sensing ; Sarcoptes ; Scabiei
Published in:	Parasites & vectors, 2015 , ISSN 1756-3305

DOI: 10.1186/s13071-015-1188-4
PMID: 26546209

9 p, 1.8 MB

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Research literature > UAB research groups literature > Research Centres and Groups (research output) > Health sciences and biosciences > Research group Wildlife Ecology & Health
Articles > Research articles
Articles > Published articles