1
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Scheele BC, Heard GW, Cardillo M, Duncan RP, Gillespie GR, Hoskin CJ, Mahony M, Newell D, Rowley JJL, Sopniewski J. An invasive pathogen drives directional niche contractions in amphibians. Nat Ecol Evol 2023; 7:1682-1692. [PMID: 37550511 DOI: 10.1038/s41559-023-02155-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/07/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023]
Abstract
Global change is causing an unprecedented restructuring of ecosystems, with the spread of invasive species being a key driver. While population declines of native species due to invasives are well documented, much less is known about whether new biotic interactions reshape niches of native species. Here we quantify geographic range and realized-niche contractions in Australian frog species following the introduction of amphibian chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis, a pathogen responsible for catastrophic amphibian declines worldwide. We show that chytrid-impacted species experienced proportionately greater contractions in niche breadth than geographic distribution following chytrid emergence. Furthermore, niche contractions were directional, with contemporary distributions of chytrid-impacted species characterized by higher temperatures, lower diurnal temperature range, higher precipitation and lower elevations. Areas with these conditions may enable host persistence with chytrid through lower pathogenicity of the fungus and/or greater demographic resilience. Nevertheless, contraction to a narrower subset of environmental conditions could increase host vulnerability to other threatening processes and should be considered in assessments of extinction risk and during conservation planning. More broadly, our results emphasize that biotic interactions can strongly shape species realized niches and that large-scale niche contractions due to new species interactions-particularly emerging pathogens-could be widespread.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ben C Scheele
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
- Macroevolution and Macroecology Group, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia.
| | - Geoffrey W Heard
- Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network and Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Marcel Cardillo
- Macroevolution and Macroecology Group, Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Richard P Duncan
- Centre for Conservation Ecology and Genomics, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Graeme R Gillespie
- Science, Economics and Insights Division, Department of Planning and Environment, Parramatta, New South Wales, Australia
- School of Biosciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Conrad J Hoskin
- College of Science and Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Michael Mahony
- School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia
| | - David Newell
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Lismore, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jodi J L Rowley
- Australian Museum Research Institute, Australian Museum, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
- Centre for Ecosystem Science; School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Jarrod Sopniewski
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
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2
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Lampo M, Señaris C, González K, Ballestas O. Smaller size of harlequin toads from populations long exposed to the fungal disease chytridiomycosis. Biotropica 2023. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.13220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Margarita Lampo
- Fundación para el Desarrollo de las Ciencias Físicas, Matemáticas y Naturales Avenida Universidad Palacio de las Academias, Piso 3 Caracas Venezuela
- Centro de Ecología Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas Km 11 de la Panamericana Caracas Venezuela
| | - Celsa Señaris
- Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD‐CSIC) Avda. Américo Vespucio, 26 41092 Sevilla Spain
| | - Katiuska González
- Centro de Ecología Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas Km 11 de la Panamericana Caracas Venezuela
| | - Onil Ballestas
- Centro de Ecología Instituto Venezolano de Investigaciones Científicas Km 11 de la Panamericana Caracas Venezuela
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3
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Genetic approaches for increasing fitness in endangered species. Trends Ecol Evol 2022; 37:332-345. [PMID: 35027225 DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2021.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The global rate of wildlife extinctions is accelerating, and the persistence of many species requires conservation breeding programs. A central paradigm of these programs is to preserve the genetic diversity of the founder populations. However, this may preserve original characteristics that make them vulnerable to extinction. We introduce targeted genetic intervention (TGI) as an alternative approach that promotes traits that enable species to persist in the face of threats by changing the incidence of alleles that impact on fitness. The TGI toolkit includes methods with established efficacy in model organisms and agriculture but are largely untried for conservation, such as synthetic biology and artificial selection. We explore TGI approaches as a species-restoration tool for intractable threats including infectious disease and climate change.
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4
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Scheele BC, Hollanders M, Hoffmann EP, Newell DA, Lindenmayer DB, McFadden M, Gilbert DJ, Grogan LF. Conservation translocations for amphibian species threatened by chytrid fungus: A review, conceptual framework, and recommendations. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.524] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ben C. Scheele
- Fenner School of Environment and Society Australian National University Canberra Australian Capital Territory Australia
| | - Matthijs Hollanders
- Faculty of Science and Engineering Southern Cross University Lismore New South Wales Australia
| | - Emily P. Hoffmann
- Fenner School of Environment and Society Australian National University Canberra Australian Capital Territory Australia
- School of Biological Sciences The University of Western Australia Crawley Western Australia Australia
| | - David A. Newell
- Faculty of Science and Engineering Southern Cross University Lismore New South Wales Australia
| | - David B. Lindenmayer
- Fenner School of Environment and Society Australian National University Canberra Australian Capital Territory Australia
| | - Michael McFadden
- Taronga Conservation Society Australia Mosman New South Wales Australia
| | - Deon J. Gilbert
- Wildlife Conservation and Science Zoos Victoria Parkville Victoria Australia
| | - Laura F. Grogan
- Centre for Planetary Health and Food Security, School of Environment and Science Griffith University Southport Queensland Australia
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5
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Brannelly LA, Webb RJ, Jiang Z, Berger L, Skerratt LF, Grogan LF. Declining amphibians might be evolving increased reproductive effort in the face of devastating disease. Evolution 2021; 75:2555-2567. [PMID: 34383313 DOI: 10.1111/evo.14327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2021] [Revised: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The devastating infectious disease chytridiomycosis has caused declines of amphibians across the globe, yet some populations are persisting and even recovering. One understudied effect of wildlife disease is changes in reproductive effort. Here, we aimed to understand if the disease has plastic effects on reproduction and if reproductive effort could evolve with disease endemism. We compared the effects of experimental pathogen exposure (trait plasticity) and population-level disease history (evolution in trait baseline) on reproductive effort using gametogenesis as a proxy in the declining and endangered frog Litoria verreauxii alpina. We found that unexposed males from disease-endemic populations had higher reproductive effort, which is consistent with an evolutionary response to chytridiomycosis. We also found evidence of trait plasticity, where males and females were affected differently by infection: pathogen exposed males had higher reproductive effort (larger testes), whereas females had reduced reproductive effort (smaller and fewer developed eggs) regardless of the population of origin. Infectious diseases can cause plastic changes in the reproductive effort at an individual level, and population-level disease exposure can result in changes to baseline reproductive effort; therefore, individual- and population-level effects of disease should be considered when designing management and conservation programs for threatened and declining species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura A Brannelly
- One Health Research Group, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Werribee, Victoria, Australia
| | - Rebecca J Webb
- One Health Research Group, School of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia
| | - Zhixuan Jiang
- One Health Research Group, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Werribee, Victoria, Australia
| | - Lee Berger
- One Health Research Group, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Werribee, Victoria, Australia
| | - Lee F Skerratt
- One Health Research Group, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Werribee, Victoria, Australia
| | - Laura F Grogan
- Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, Southport, Queensland, Australia.,Forest Research Centre, School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Lismore, New South Wales, Australia
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6
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Sýkorová K, Flegr J. Faster life history strategy manifests itself by lower age at menarche, higher sexual desire, and earlier reproduction in people with worse health. Sci Rep 2021; 11:11254. [PMID: 34045560 PMCID: PMC8159921 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-90579-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Accepted: 05/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Factors which indicate lower life expectancy also induce switching to a faster life strategy, that is, a higher investment in current reproduction at the expense of future reproduction and body maintenance. We tested a hypothesis according to which impairment of individual health serves as a signal for switching to a faster life strategy using online-gathered data from 32,911 subjects. Worse health was associated with lower age at menarche and earlier initiation of sexual life in women and higher sexual desire and earlier reproduction in both sexes. Individuals with worse health also exhibited lower sexual activity, lower number of sexual partners, and lower total number of children. These results suggest that impaired health shifts individuals towards a faster life strategy but also has a negative (physiological) effect on behaviours related to sexual life. Signs of a faster life strategy were also found in Rh-negative men in good health, indicating that even just genetic predisposition to worse health could serve as a signal for switching to a faster life strategy. We suggest that improved public health in developed countries and the resulting shift to a slower life strategy could be the ultimate cause of the phenomenon of demographic transition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kateřina Sýkorová
- Department of Philosophy and History of Science, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Vinicna 7, 128 00, Prague, Czech Republic.
| | - Jaroslav Flegr
- Department of Philosophy and History of Science, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Vinicna 7, 128 00, Prague, Czech Republic
- Department of Applied Neurosciences and Brain Imagination, National Institute of Mental Health, Topolova 748, Klecany, Czech Republic
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7
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Brannelly LA, McCallum HI, Grogan LF, Briggs CJ, Ribas MP, Hollanders M, Sasso T, Familiar López M, Newell DA, Kilpatrick AM. Mechanisms underlying host persistence following amphibian disease emergence determine appropriate management strategies. Ecol Lett 2020; 24:130-148. [PMID: 33067922 DOI: 10.1111/ele.13621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2020] [Revised: 06/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Emerging infectious diseases have caused many species declines, changes in communities and even extinctions. There are also many species that persist following devastating declines due to disease. The broad mechanisms that enable host persistence following declines include evolution of resistance or tolerance, changes in immunity and behaviour, compensatory recruitment, pathogen attenuation, environmental refugia, density-dependent transmission and changes in community composition. Here we examine the case of chytridiomycosis, the most important wildlife disease of the past century. We review the full breadth of mechanisms allowing host persistence, and synthesise research on host, pathogen, environmental and community factors driving persistence following chytridiomycosis-related declines and overview the current evidence and the information required to support each mechanism. We found that for most species the mechanisms facilitating persistence have not been identified. We illustrate how the mechanisms that drive long-term host population dynamics determine the most effective conservation management strategies. Therefore, understanding mechanisms of host persistence is important because many species continue to be threatened by disease, some of which will require intervention. The conceptual framework we describe is broadly applicable to other novel disease systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura A Brannelly
- Veterinary BioSciences, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Werribee, Vic, 3030, Australia
| | - Hamish I McCallum
- Environmental Futures Research Institute and School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Nathan, Qld., 4111, Australia
| | - Laura F Grogan
- Environmental Futures Research Institute and School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Nathan, Qld., 4111, Australia.,Forest Research Centre, School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW, 2480, Australia
| | - Cheryl J Briggs
- Ecology, Evolution and Marine Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, USA
| | - Maria P Ribas
- Forest Research Centre, School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW, 2480, Australia.,Wildlife Conservation Medicine Research Group, Departament de Medicina i Cirurgia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, 08193, Spain
| | - Matthijs Hollanders
- Forest Research Centre, School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW, 2480, Australia
| | - Thais Sasso
- Environmental Futures Research Institute and School of Environment and Science, Griffith University, Nathan, Qld., 4111, Australia
| | - Mariel Familiar López
- School of Environment and Sciences, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Qld., 4215, Australia
| | - David A Newell
- Forest Research Centre, School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW, 2480, Australia
| | - Auston M Kilpatrick
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of California Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA, 95064, USA
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8
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Russell RE, DiRenzo GV, Szymanski JA, Alger KE, Grant EHC. Principles and Mechanisms of Wildlife Population Persistence in the Face of Disease. Front Ecol Evol 2020. [DOI: 10.3389/fevo.2020.569016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
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9
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Bell SC, Heard GW, Berger L, Skerratt LF. Connectivity over a disease risk gradient enables recovery of rainforest frogs. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2020; 30:e02152. [PMID: 32343856 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2152] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2019] [Revised: 02/14/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Chytridiomycosis has been a key driver of global frog declines and extinctions, particularly for high-altitude populations across Australia and the Americas. While recent evidence shows some species are recovering, the extent of such recoveries and the mechanisms underpinning them remain poorly resolved. We surveyed the historical latitudinal and elevational range of four Australian rainforest frogs that disappeared from upland sites between 1989 and 1994 to establish their contemporary distribution and elevational limits, and investigate factors affecting population recovery. Five rainforest streams were surveyed from mountain-base to summit (30 sites in total), with swabs collected from the target species (Litoria dayi, L. nannotis, L. rheocola, and L. serrata) to determine their infection status, and data loggers deployed to measure microclimatic variation across the elevational gradient. Infection probability increased with elevation and canopy cover as it was tightly and inversely correlated with stream-side air temperature. Occupancy patterns suggest varying responses to this disease threat gradient. Two species, L. rheocola and L. serrata, were found over their full historical elevational range (≥1,000 m above sea level [asl]), while L. dayi was not detected above 400 m (formerly known up to 900 m asl) and L. nannotis was not detected above 800 m (formerly known up to 1,200 m asl). Site occupancy probability was negatively related to predicted infection prevalence for L. dayi, L. nannotis, and L. rheocola, but not L. serrata, which appears to now tolerate high fungal burdens. This study highlights the importance of environmental refuges and connectivity across disease risk gradients for the persistence and natural recovery of frogs susceptible to chytridiomycosis. Likewise, in documenting both interspecific variation in recovery rates and intraspecific differences between sites, this study suggests interactions between disease threats and host selection exist that could be manipulated. For example, translocations may be warranted where connectivity is poor or the increase in disease risk is too steep to allow recolonization, combined with assisted selection or use of founders from populations that have already undergone natural selection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara C Bell
- College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia
- One Health Research Group, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Werribee, Victoria, 3030, Australia
| | - Geoffrey W Heard
- Institute of Land, Water and Society, Charles Sturt University, Albury, New South Wales, 2640, Australia
- Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Heidelberg, Victoria, 3084, Australia
| | - Lee Berger
- One Health Research Group, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Werribee, Victoria, 3030, Australia
| | - Lee F Skerratt
- One Health Research Group, Melbourne Veterinary School, Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Sciences, University of Melbourne, Werribee, Victoria, 3030, Australia
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10
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Campbell LJ, Garner TWJ, Tessa G, Scheele BC, Griffiths AGF, Wilfert L, Harrison XA. An emerging viral pathogen truncates population age structure in a European amphibian and may reduce population viability. PeerJ 2018; 6:e5949. [PMID: 30479902 PMCID: PMC6241393 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.5949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2018] [Accepted: 10/17/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Infectious diseases can alter the demography of their host populations, reducing their viability even in the absence of mass mortality. Amphibians are the most threatened group of vertebrates globally, and emerging infectious diseases play a large role in their continued population declines. Viruses belonging to the genus Ranavirus are responsible for one of the deadliest and most widespread of these diseases. To date, no work has used individual level data to investigate how ranaviruses affect population demographic structure. We used skeletochronology and morphology to evaluate the impact of ranaviruses on the age structure of populations of the European common frog (Rana temporaria) in the UK. We compared ecologically similar populations that differed most notably in their historical presence or absence of ranavirosis (the acute syndrome caused by ranavirus infection). Our results suggest that ranavirosis may truncate the age structure of R. temporaria populations. One potential explanation for such a shift might be increased adult mortality and subsequent shifts in the life history of younger age classes that increase reproductive output earlier in life. Additionally, we constructed population projection models which indicated that such increased adult mortality could heighten the vulnerability of frog populations to stochastic environmental challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lewis J Campbell
- Environment and Sustainability Institute, University of Exeter, Penryn, UK.,Institute of Zoology, Zoological Society of London, London, UK.,Department of Pathobiological Sciences, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | | | - Giulia Tessa
- Life Sciences and Systems Biology, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Benjamin C Scheele
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, Australia
| | | | - Lena Wilfert
- Centre for Ecology and Conservation, University of Exeter, Penryn, UK.,Institute of Evolutionary Ecology and Conservation Genomics, Universität Ulm, Ulm, Germany
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11
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Kosch TA, Silva CNS, Brannelly LA, Roberts AA, Lau Q, Marantelli G, Berger L, Skerratt LF. Genetic potential for disease resistance in critically endangered amphibians decimated by chytridiomycosis. Anim Conserv 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- T. A. Kosch
- One Health Research Group College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences James Cook University Townsville Qld Australia
| | - C. N. S. Silva
- Centre for Sustainable Tropical Fisheries and Aquaculture College of Science and Engineering James Cook University Townsville Qld Australia
| | - L. A. Brannelly
- One Health Research Group College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences James Cook University Townsville Qld Australia
- Department of Biological Sciences University of Pittsburgh Pittsburgh PA USA
| | - A. A. Roberts
- One Health Research Group College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences James Cook University Townsville Qld Australia
| | - Q. Lau
- Department of Evolutionary Studies of Biosystems Sokendai (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies) Hayama Japan
| | | | - L. Berger
- One Health Research Group College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences James Cook University Townsville Qld Australia
| | - L. F. Skerratt
- One Health Research Group College of Public Health, Medical and Veterinary Sciences James Cook University Townsville Qld Australia
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