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

本项目研究远距离动物迁徙如何影响传染病的传播，使用帝王蝶和原生动物寄生虫作为模型系统。帝王蝶栖息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壮观的迁徙。迄今为止，所有的黑脉金斑蝶种群都存在寄生虫，在全年繁殖且不迁徙的种群中，寄生虫的患病率最高。研究者将进行实地研究，比较多个迁徙和非迁徙帝王蝶种群内部和之间的当代感染率。一项名为“君主健康”的公民科学项目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，感染成本和黑脉金斑蝶飞行能力的免疫防御，以及宿主抗性和寄生虫毒力的进化变化。研究这种迁徙的蝴蝶-寄生虫系统将为迁徙对其他动物物种健康的影响提供见解，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传染病生物学课程和在佐治亚大学非科学专业学生中促进环境知识普及。因为君主已经抓住了公众的想象力，研究者将参与让学生和公众参与科学的推广工作。这些活动包括一个公民科学项目，与自然历史中心和当地教师团体的互动，以及建立一个网站，向公众传播有关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.