Relationship between population density and viral infection: a role for personality?
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Date
2019
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Wiley
Abstract
Conspecific density and animal personality (consistent among‐individual differences
in behavior) may both play an important role in disease ecology. Nevertheless, both
factors have rarely been studied together but may provide insightful information in
understanding pathogen transmission dynamics. In this study, we investigated how
both personality and density affect viral infections both direct and indirectly, using
the multimammate mice (Mastomys natalensis) and Morogoro arenavirus (MORV) as a
model system. Using a replicated semi‐natural experiment, we found a positive correlation between MORV antibody presence and density, suggesting that MORV infection is density‐dependent. Surprisingly, slower explorers were more likely to have
antibodies against MORV compared to highly explorative individuals. However, exploration was positively correlated with density which may suggest a negative, indirect
effect of density on MORV infection. We have shown here that in order to better understand disease ecology, both personality and density should be taken into account.
Description
Original Research
Keywords
Animal personality, Arenavirus, Density, Density dependence, Disease ecology, Exploration, Mastomys natalensis, Morogoro virus, Multimammate mice, Stress sensitivity
Citation
DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5541