Network structure and parasite transmission in a group living lizard, the gidgee skink, Egernia stokesii
Network structure and parasite transmission in a group living lizard, the gidgee skink, Egernia stokesii
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DOI：
10.1007/s00265-009-0730-9
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发表时间：
2009-05-01
影响因子：
2.3
通讯作者：
Murray, Kris
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Godfrey, Stephanie S.;Bull, C. Michael;Murray, Kris
在南澳的弗林德斯山脉，吉吉石龙子（Egernia stokesii）在岩石露头处形成了大型的社会群体。群体成员共享避难所（岩石裂缝），这可能促进寄生虫传播。我们测量了网络中的个人连接的模式，共同的缝隙使用和观察模式的寄生三个血液寄生虫（血吸虫，Schellackia和疟原虫）和体外寄生蜱（Amblyomma vikirri）。数据来自一个为期一年的标记重捕研究的四个群体。传播网络的构建，以代表蜥蜴之间可能的传播途径。两个蜥蜴，使用相同的避难所内估计的传输时间被认为是连接在传输网络。一条边缘被放置在他们之间，指向最后占据裂缝的人。社交网络，一个子集的同一天只协会，是小的和高度分散的传输网络相比，这表明，非同步缝隙使用导致更多的传输机会比直接的社会协会。在传播网络中，被蜱虫感染的蜥蜴与其他被蜱虫感染的蜥蜴比未感染的蜥蜴连接得更多。被蜱虫感染并携带多种血液寄生虫感染的蜥蜴比没有蜱虫或有一种或没有血液寄生虫的蜥蜴在网络中处于更多的连接位置。我们的研究结果表明，更高水平的网络连接可能会增加感染的风险，或者寄生虫会影响蜥蜴的行为，从而影响它们在网络中的位置。
Gidgee skinks (Egernia stokesii) form large social aggregations in rocky outcrops across the Flinders Ranges in South Australia. Group members share refuges (rock crevices), which may promote parasite transmission. We measured connectivity of individuals in networks constructed from patterns of common crevice use and observed patterns of parasitism by three blood parasites (Hemolivia, Schellackia and Plasmodium) and an ectoparasitic tick (Amblyomma vikirri). Data came from a 1-year mark-recapture study of four populations. Transmission networks were constructed to represent possible transmission pathways among lizards. Two lizards that used the same refuge within an estimated transmission period were considered connected in the transmission network. An edge was placed between them, directed towards the individual that occupied the crevice last. Social networks, a sub-set of same-day only associations, were small and highly fragmented compared with transmission networks, suggesting that non-synchronous crevice use leads to more transmission opportunities than direct social association. In transmission networks, lizards infested by ticks were connected to more other tick-infested lizards than uninfected lizards. Lizards infected by ticks and carrying multiple blood parasite infections were in more connected positions in the network than lizards without ticks or with one or no blood parasites. Our findings suggest higher levels of network connectivity may increase the risk of becoming infected or that parasites influence lizard behaviour and consequently their position in the network.