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.
Highlights
In the last couple of decades, there is an increase of emerging infec‐ tious diseases worldwide of which 60% are zoonotic and originating from wildlife (Daszak, 2000; Jones et al, 2008; Karesh et al, 2012)
Both factors have rarely been studied together but may provide insightful information in understanding pathogen transmission dynamics. 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
We used linear mixed models (LMM) with a Gaussian error distribu‐ tion in order to determine whether density, MORVab presence as well as sex and reproductive age affected the observed variation in exploration and stress sensitivity among and within individuals
Summary
In the last couple of decades, there is an increase of emerging infec‐ tious diseases worldwide of which 60% are zoonotic and originating from wildlife (Daszak, 2000; Jones et al, 2008; Karesh et al, 2012). A correlation between person‐ ality and density at the within‐individual level would be expected in environments with strong density fluctuations, leading to changes in resource availability and the social environment (Borremans et al, 2016) Individuals might adjust their behavior in these conditions (i.e., plasticity; Dingemanse & Wolf, 2010) potentially increasing their fitness at both low and high densities (Dingemanse & Wolf, 2013). Increased exploration would be expected if the benefits of reproductive success outweigh the costs of predation This is the first study which examines the combined effect of population density and behavioral heterogeneity on virus infection probability in one experiment. Pathogenicity of MORV seems not severe on the short term (Mariën, Borremans, Gryseels, Soropogui, et al, 2017); a long‐term capture–mark–recapture study revealed that MORVab positive indi‐ viduals have a slightly lower survival probability than MORVab nega‐ tive individuals (Mariën et al, 2018)
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