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A review of the role of parasites in the ecology of reptiles and amphibians
Author(s) -
Bower Deborah S.,
Brannelly Laura A.,
McDonald Cait A.,
Webb Rebecca J.,
Greenspan Sasha E.,
Vickers Mathew,
Gardner Michael G.,
Greenlees Matthew J.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
austral ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.688
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1442-9993
pISSN - 1442-9985
DOI - 10.1111/aec.12695
Subject(s) - biology , amphibian , ecology , range (aeronautics) , fragmentation (computing) , population , materials science , demography , sociology , composite material
A great diversity of parasites, from viruses and bacteria to a range of remarkable eukaryotic organisms, exploit reptile and amphibian hosts. Recent increases in the emergence of infectious disease have revealed the importance of understanding the effects of interactions between hosts and their parasites. Here we review the effects of parasite infection on a range of demographic, behavioural, genomic and physiological factors in reptile and amphibian species. Reviewing these parasite roles collectively, and prioritising areas for research, advances our ecological understanding and guides direction for conservation in a time of rapid species decline. Poorly resolved systems include Gymnophionan amphibians and Crocodilian hosts, in addition to viral and bacterial parasites. Future research should seek to understand processes enabling population recovery and examining synergistic interactions of parasites with fragmentation, climate change and other processes that threaten species persistence.