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Evolution of pathogens in a man‐made world
Author(s) -
LEBARBENCHON CAMILLE,
BROWN SAM P.,
POULIN ROBERT,
GAUTHIERCLERC MICHEL,
THOMAS FRÉDÉRIC
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
molecular ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.619
H-Index - 225
eISSN - 1365-294X
pISSN - 0962-1083
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-294x.2007.03375.x
Subject(s) - biology , biodiversity , ecology , habitat destruction , climate change , habitat fragmentation , evolutionary biology , variety (cybernetics) , population , environmental change , evolutionary ecology , conservation biology , environmental planning , environmental ethics , host (biology) , demography , environmental science , artificial intelligence , sociology , computer science , philosophy
Human activities have resulted in substantial, large‐scale environmental modifications, especially in the past century. Ecologists and evolutionary biologists are increasingly coming to realize that parasites and pathogens, like free‐living organisms, evolve as the consequence of these anthropogenic changes. Although this area now commands the attention of a variety of researchers, a broad predictive framework is lacking, mainly because the links between human activities, the environment and parasite evolution are complex. From empirical and theoretical examples chosen in the literature, we give an overview of the ways in which humans can directly or indirectly influence the evolution of different traits in parasites ( e.g. specificity, virulence, polymorphism). We discuss the role of direct and indirect factors as diverse as habitat fragmentation, pollution, biodiversity loss, climate change, introduction of species, use of vaccines and antibiotics, ageing of the population, etc. We also present challenging questions for further research. Understanding the links between anthropogenic changes and parasite evolution needs to become a cornerstone of public health planning, economic development and conservation biology.