Wildlife Disease Ecology : Linking Theory to Data and Application

Wilson, Kenneth and Fenton, Andy and Tompkins, D. M., eds. (2019) Wildlife Disease Ecology : Linking Theory to Data and Application. Ecological Reviews . Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. ISBN 9781316501900

Abstract

Just like humans, animals and plants suffer from infectious diseases, which can critically threaten biodiversity. This book describes key studies that have driven our understanding of the ecology and evolution of wildlife diseases. Each chapter introduces the host and disease, and explains how that system has aided our general understanding of the evolution and spread of wildlife diseases, through the development and testing of important epidemiological and evolutionary theories. Questions addressed include: How do hosts and parasites co-evolve? What determines how fast a disease spreads through a population? How do co-infecting parasites interact? Why do hosts vary in parasite burden? Which factors determine parasite virulence and host resistance? How do parasites influence the spread of invasive species? How do we best control infectious diseases in wildlife? This book will provide a valuable introduction to students new to the topic, and novel insights to professionals working in the field and policymakers.