Tag: Pathogens and disease

Pathogens and disease, Research summaries

The amorphous, heterogeneous spatial spread of Wolbachia

Penelope A. Hancock presents recently published work on ‘Predicting the spatial dynamics of Wolbachia infections in Aedes aegypti arbovirus vector populations in heterogeneous landscapes‘. Uncertainty surrounding density-dependent mosquito population growth rates prevents us from predicting the outcome of mosquito control interventions. A timely example is the introduction of Wolbachia bacterial infections into wild Aedes aegypti populations, the major vector of the dengue, Zika and chikungunya … Continue reading The amorphous, heterogeneous spatial spread of Wolbachia

Journal of Applied Ecology1 Comment
Research summaries

A new way to reduce the introduction of exotic pests and diseases in trees into the UK

New research highlights the need for policies that encourage nurseries to produce home-grown plants and thus reduce the risk of importing tree pests and diseases that threaten the UK’s woodland. Author of Variability in commercial demand for tree saplings affects the probability of introducing exotic forest diseases, Vasthi Alonso Chavez and British Ecological Society Policy Manager, Brendan Costelloe explain more. A Spanish version of this … Continue reading A new way to reduce the introduction of exotic pests and diseases in trees into the UK

Journal of Applied Ecology1 Comment
Research summaries, Translation

Nuevas estrategias para reducir la introducción de enfermedades forestales exóticas al Reino Unido

Vasthi Alonso Chavez and Brendan Costelloe on Variability in commercial demand for tree saplings affects the probability of introducing exotic forest diseases. English version available here. La industria viverista del Reino Unido genera ingresos económicos sustanciales a través del movimiento y comercialización de árboles a gran escala. Sin embargo, esta comercialización puede ser un vehículo para la introducción de plagas y enfermedades forestales. La importación de … Continue reading Nuevas estrategias para reducir la introducción de enfermedades forestales exóticas al Reino Unido

Journal of Applied Ecology2 Comments
Editor's Choice

Editor’s Choice 55:4 – Applying ecology to inform plant disease management policy and avoid regulator-grower conflict

The Editor’s Choice for issue 55:4 is written by Senior Editor, Phil Stephens. The selected article is Grower and regulator conflict in management of the citrus disease Huanglongbing in Brazil: A modelling study by Craig et al. Plant disease is already recognised as a major driver of crop yield losses. With a huge proportion of the growing human population’s food intake dependent on a relatively … Continue reading Editor’s Choice 55:4 – Applying ecology to inform plant disease management policy and avoid regulator-grower conflict

Journal of Applied Ecology1 Comment
Pathogens and disease, Research summaries

The devil is in the details: managing small populations to combat disease-led decline

Following the recent post by Billie Lazenby, Ellery McNaughton & Associate Editor Margaret Stanley share their thoughts on the article, Density trends and demographic signals uncover the long-term impact of transmissible cancer in Tasmanian devils and the importance of focusing on external threats to Tasmanian devils. New research by Lazenby et al. highlights the important interplay between disease ecology and population dynamics in informing conservation management. Wild … Continue reading The devil is in the details: managing small populations to combat disease-led decline

Journal of Applied Ecology1 Comment
Research summaries

Process driving pattern: the long-term impact of a transmissible cancer on Tasmanian devils

Billie Lazenby (Save the Tasmanian Devil Program) discusses new research into devil facial tumour disease and the recent article, Density trends and demographic signals uncover the long-term impact of transmissible cancer in Tasmanian devils. Tracking population trends, particularly in response to a threat, is an essential component of conservation management. Moreover understanding what is driving these trends gives insight into whether they are likely to be … Continue reading Process driving pattern: the long-term impact of a transmissible cancer on Tasmanian devils

Journal of Applied Ecology4 Comments
Research summaries

Vaccinating badgers against TB does not change their behaviour

In this post, Rosie Woodroffe discusses her paper “Ranging behaviour of badgers Meles meles vaccinated with Bacillus Calmette Guerin”, published today in Journal of Applied Ecology. Badgergeddon! That’s how one of Britain’s national newspapers described the ongoing cull of badgers, intended to curb the spread of bovine tuberculosis (TB) to cattle. The culls are highly controversial. Farmers clamour for decisive action to control a disease … Continue reading Vaccinating badgers against TB does not change their behaviour

Journal of Applied Ecology1 Comment
Research summaries

The map matters: crop-dominated landscapes have higher vector-borne plant virus prevalence

In this post Suzi Claflin discusses her paper ‘Crop-dominated landscapes have higher vector-borne plant virus prevalence‘ It’s been clear for some time that landscape composition—that is, land-use types and the connections between them—strongly affects the community of creatures living in a given area. When it comes to insects, the landscape has been shown to shape the communities of both the ones we like, such as … Continue reading The map matters: crop-dominated landscapes have higher vector-borne plant virus prevalence

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Research summaries

How network analyses can help to find out what happens to ostrich farming after an avian influenza outbreak

In this post Craig Allen and Hannah Birge discuss a paper from Christine Moore, John Grewar and Graeme S. Cumming ‘Quantifying network resilience: comparison before and after a major perturbation shows strengths and limitations of network metrics’ Humans are very good at creating mental models to simplify nature’s complexity, to make its many parts and interactions more understandable. Approaches that exemplify this include hierarchy theory, panarchy … Continue reading How network analyses can help to find out what happens to ostrich farming after an avian influenza outbreak

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