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Deeply conserved susceptibility in a multi‐host, multi‐parasite system
Author(s) -
Barrow Lisa N.,
McNew Sabrina M.,
Mitchell Nora,
Galen Spencer C.,
Lutz Holly L.,
Skeen Heather,
Valqui Thomas,
Weckstein Jason D.,
Witt Christopher C.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
ecology letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.852
H-Index - 265
eISSN - 1461-0248
pISSN - 1461-023X
DOI - 10.1111/ele.13263
Subject(s) - phylogenetic tree , biology , phylogenetics , host (biology) , evolutionary ecology , ecology , evolutionary biology , parasite hosting , generalist and specialist species , zoology , habitat , genetics , gene , world wide web , computer science
Abstract Variation in susceptibility is ubiquitous in multi‐host, multi‐parasite assemblages, and can have profound implications for ecology and evolution in these systems. The extent to which susceptibility to parasites is phylogenetically conserved among hosts can be revealed by analysing diverse regional communities. We screened for haemosporidian parasites in 3983 birds representing 40 families and 523 species, spanning ~ 4500 m elevation in the tropical Andes. To quantify the influence of host phylogeny on infection status, we applied Bayesian phylogenetic multilevel models that included a suite of environmental, spatial, temporal, life history and ecological predictors. We found evidence of deeply conserved susceptibility across the avian tree; host phylogeny explained substantial variation in infection status, and results were robust to phylogenetic uncertainty. Our study suggests that susceptibility is governed, in part, by conserved, latent aspects of anti‐parasite defence. This demonstrates the importance of deep phylogeny for understanding present‐day ecological interactions.