Open AccessRelationship between population density and viral infection: A role for personality?
Author(s) -
Vanden Broecke Bram,
Mariën Joachim,
Sabuni Christopher Andrew,
Mnyone Ladslaus,
Massawe Apia W.,
Matthysen Erik,
Leirs Herwig
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
ecology and evolution
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.17
H-Index - 63
ISSN - 2045-7758
DOI - 10.1002/ece3.5541
Subject(s) - mastomys , biology , personality , density dependence , ecology , population density , population , transmission (telecommunications) , zoology , immunology , social psychology , psychology , demography , rodent , sociology , electrical engineering , engineering
Conspecific density and animal personality (consistent among‐individual differences in behavior) may both play an important role in disease ecology. Nevertheless, both factors have rarely been studied together but may provide insightful information in understanding pathogen transmission dynamics. In this study, we investigated how both personality and density affect viral infections both direct and indirectly, using the multimammate mice ( Mastomys natalensis ) and Morogoro arenavirus (MORV) as a model system. Using a replicated semi‐natural experiment, we found a positive correlation between MORV antibody presence and density, suggesting that MORV infection is density‐dependent. Surprisingly, slower explorers were more likely to have antibodies against MORV compared to highly explorative individuals. However, exploration was positively correlated with density which may suggest a negative, indirect effect of density on MORV infection. We have shown here that in order to better understand disease ecology, both personality and density should be taken into account.