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Does terrestrial epidemiology apply to marine systems?
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-16, 19:11 authored by McCallum, HI, Kuris, A, Harvell, CD, Lafferty, KD, Smith, GW, Porter, JMost of epidemiological theory has been developed for terrestrial systems, but the significance of disease in the ocean is now being recognized. However, the extent to which terrestrial epidemiology can be directly transferred to marine systems is uncertain. Many broad types of disease-causing organism occur both on land and in the sea, and it is clear that some emergent disease problems in marine environments are caused by pathogens moving from terrestrial to marine systems. However, marine systems are qualitatively different from terrestrial environments, and these differences affect the application of modelling and management approaches that have been developed for terrestrial systems. Phyla and body plans are more diverse in marine environments and marine organisms have different life histories and probably different disease transmission modes than many of their terrestrial counterparts. Marine populations are typically more open than terrestrial ones, with the potential for long-distance dispersal of larvae. Potentially, this might enable unusually rapid propagation of epidemics in marine systems, and there are several examples of this. Taken together, these differences will require the development of new approaches to modelling and control of infectious disease in the ocean.
History
Publication title
Trends in Ecology and EvolutionVolume
19Issue
11Pagination
585-591ISSN
0169-5347Department/School
School of Natural SciencesPublisher
Elsevier LtdPlace of publication
UKRepository Status
- Restricted