Social network structure and parasite infection patterns in a territorial reptile, the tuatara (Sphenodon punctatus)

International Journal for Parasitology
Stephanie S GodfreyC M Bull

Abstract

We investigated whether the parasite load of an individual could be predicted by its position in a social network. Specifically, we derived social networks in a solitary, territorial reptile (the tuatara, Sphenodon punctatus), with links based on the sharing of space, not necessarily synchronously, in overlapping territories. Tuatara are infected by ectoparasitic ticks (Amblyomma sphenodonti), mites (Neotrombicula spp.) and a blood parasite (Hepatozoon tuatarae) which is transmitted by the tick. We recorded the location of individual tuatara in two study plots twice daily during the mating season (March) in 2years (2006 and 2007) on Stephens Island, New Zealand. We constructed weighted, directed networks to represent pathways for parasite transmission, where nodes represented individual tuatara and edges connecting the nodes represented the extent of territory overlap among each pair of individuals. We considered a network-based hypothesis which predicted that the in-strength of individuals (the sum of edge weights directed towards a node) in the derived network would be positively related to their parasite load. Alternatively, if the derived social network did not reflect actual parasite transmission, we predicted other factor...Continue Reading

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Citations

Dec 12, 2012·PloS One·Andrew J J MacIntoshAlexander D Hernandez
Feb 22, 2014·Ecological Applications : a Publication of the Ecological Society of America·Daniel A GrearPeter J Hudson
Nov 28, 2015·Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society·Lauren A WhiteMeggan E Craft
Aug 1, 2012·Molecular Ecology·C M BullD M Gordon
Jun 8, 2011·The Journal of Animal Ecology·Aaron L FennerC Michael Bull
Oct 15, 2013·The Journal of Animal Ecology·Kimberly L VanderwaalBrenda McCowan
Jun 27, 2015·Molecular Ecology·Jennifer A MooreKim T Scribner
Apr 15, 2015·Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences·Rebecca RimbachThomas R Gillespie
Feb 18, 2014·International Journal for Parasitology. Parasites and Wildlife·Stephanie S Godfrey
Feb 18, 2014·International Journal for Parasitology. Parasites and Wildlife·Caroline K WohlfielC Michael Bull
May 6, 2014·Trends in Ecology & Evolution·Ralf H J M KurversMax Wolf
Feb 17, 2015·Trends in Parasitology·Alan J Lymbery
Aug 5, 2016·Journal of the Royal Society, Interface·Kimberly VanderWaalMeggan E Craft
Mar 21, 2017·The Journal of Animal Ecology·Kezia R ManlovePeter J Hudson
Jul 13, 2020·The Journal of Animal Ecology·Ellen E BrandellMeggan E Craft
Dec 2, 2020·Parasitology·Fernanda Rodrigues FernandesLeonardo Dominici Cruz
Feb 10, 2021·Trends in Parasitology·Rogini RunghenCristina Llopis-Belenguer
Mar 12, 2021·Methods in Ecology and Evolution·Marie L J GilbertsonMeggan E Craft
May 16, 2021·Hormones and Behavior·Sean M MaguireHans A Hofmann

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