CAREER: Animal Migrations and Infectious Disease Dynamics: Monarch Butterfiles as a Global Case Study

该项目使用帝王蝶和一种原生动物寄生虫作为模型系统，研究动物的长距离迁徙如何影响传染病的传播。帝王鸟居住在世界各地的岛屿和大陆上，最著名的是在北美部分地区进行了一次壮观的迁徙。到目前为止，所有被检查的帝王种群中都存在寄生虫，在常年繁殖且不迁徙的种群中，寄生虫的感染率最高。调查者将进行实地研究，以比较多个迁徙和非迁徙的帝王种群内部和之间的当代感染率。公民科学项目君主健康将邀请志愿者观察员帮助追踪北美受感染的蝴蝶。将开发数学模型和实验室实验来评估可能解释迁徙种群较低感染率的假设机制，包括：宿主逃离受污染的栖息地、感染成本和君主飞行能力的免疫防御，以及宿主抵抗力和寄生虫毒力的进化变化。研究这种迁徙的蝴蝶-寄生虫系统将为研究迁徙对其他动物物种健康的影响提供洞察力，包括改变宿主迁徙模式的人类活动如何影响病原体传播。拟议的培训活动包括在佐治亚大学开设传染病生物学课程和促进非理科专业学生的环境素养。由于君主已经抓住了公众的想象力，调查人员将参与到让学生和公众参与科学的外展工作中。这些活动包括公民科学项目、与自然历史中心和当地教师团体的互动，以及开发一个网站向公众传播关于帝王蝶寄生虫的信息。

This project examines how long-distance animal migrations affect the transmission of infectious diseases, using monarch butterflies and a protozoan parasite as a model system. Monarchs inhabit islands and continents worldwide and are best known for undertaking a spectacular migration in parts of North America. Parasites occur in all monarch populations examined to date and prevalence is highest in populations that breed year round and do not migrate. The investigator will conduct field studies to compare contemporary infection rates within and between multiple migratory and non-migratory monarch populations. A citizen science project, MonarchHealth, will involve volunteer observers to help track infected butterflies in N. America. Mathematical models and laboratory experiments will be developed to evaluate hypothesized mechanisms that could account for lower infection rates in migratory populations, including: host escape from contaminated habitats, costs of infection and immune defenses for monarch flight ability, and evolutionary changes in host resistance and parasite virulence. Studying this migratory butterfly-parasite system will provide insights for effects of migration on the health of other animal species, including how human activities that alter host migratory patterns can affect pathogen spread. Proposed training activities include courses in the biology of infectious diseases and promoting environmental literacy among non-science majors at the University of Georgia. Because monarchs have captured the imagination of the public, the investigator will engage in outreach efforts that involve students and public citizens in science. These activities include a citizen science project, interactions with natural history centers and local teachers' groups, and developing a website to disseminate information on monarch butterfly parasites to the general public.