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Wasting disease regulates long-term population dynamics in a threatened seagrass
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Bull, James C., Kenyon, Emma J. and Cook, Kevan J.. (2012) Wasting disease regulates long-term population dynamics in a threatened seagrass. Oecologia , Volume 169 (Number 1). pp. 135-142. ISSN 0029-8549
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Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00442-011-2187-6
Abstract
The role of disease in the long-term dynamics of threatened species is poorly quantified, as well as being under-represented in ecology and conservation management. To understand persistent host–pathogen interaction operating in a vulnerable habitat, we quantified dynamics driving patterns of seagrass density using a longitudinal study in a relatively pristine site (Isles of Scilly, UK). Replicated samples of eelgrass (Zostera marina) density and wasting disease prevalence, presumably caused by Labyrinthula zosterae, were taken from five meadows at the height of the growing season, over the years 1997–2010. Data were used to parameterise a population dynamic model, incorporating density-dependent factors and sea temperature records. We found that direct density and disease-mediated feedback operate within a network of local populations. Furthermore, our results indicate that the strength of limitation to seagrass growth by disease was increased at higher temperatures. This modification of the coupled host–pathogen dynamics forms a novel hypothesis to account for dramatic die-backs of Z. marina widely reported elsewhere. Our findings highlight the importance of disease in structuring distributions of vulnerable species, as well as the application of population modelling in order to reveal ecological processes and prioritise future mechanistic investigation.
| Item Type: | Journal Article |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | Q Science > Q Science (General) |
| Divisions: | Faculty of Science > Life Sciences (2010- ) |
| Journal or Publication Title: | Oecologia |
| Publisher: | Springer |
| ISSN: | 0029-8549 |
| Date: | May 2012 |
| Volume: | Volume 169 |
| Number: | Number 1 |
| Page Range: | pp. 135-142 |
| Identification Number: | 10.1007/s00442-011-2187-6 |
| Status: | Peer Reviewed |
| Publication Status: | Published |
| Access rights to Published version: | Restricted or Subscription Access |
| URI: | http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/42438 |
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