Michels, Emile, Hansford, Kayleigh, Perkins, Sarah  ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7457-2699, McDonald, Robbie A, Medlock, Jolyon M and Tschirren, Barbara
2025.
The release of non-native gamebirds is associated with amplified zoonotic disease risk.
Ecology Letters
28
(4)
, e70115.
10.1111/ele.70115
|
Preview |
PDF
- Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution. Download (1MB) | Preview |
Abstract
Spillback—where non-native species increase native pathogen prevalence—is potentially an important mechanism by which non-natives contribute to zoonotic disease emergence. However, spillback has not yet been directly demonstrated because it is difficult to disentangle from confounding factors which correlate with non-native species abundance and native pathogen prevalence. Here, we capitalise on replicated, quasi-experimental releases of non-native pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) to compare vector abundance and native pathogen prevalence between sites with similar local conditions but different non-native densities. Prevalence of Borrelia spp. (the causative agent of Lyme disease) in questing ticks was almost 2.5x higher in woods where pheasants are released compared to control woods, with a particularly strong effect on Borrelia garinii, a bird specialist genospecies. Furthermore, adult (but not nymphal) ticks tended to be more abundant at pheasant-release woods. This work provides evidence that non-native species can impact zoonotic pathogen prevalence via spillback in ecologically relevant contexts.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Date Type: | Published Online |
| Status: | Published |
| Schools: | Schools > Biosciences |
| Publisher: | Wiley |
| ISSN: | 1461-023X |
| Date of First Compliant Deposit: | 27 March 2025 |
| Date of Acceptance: | 24 March 2025 |
| Last Modified: | 06 May 2025 15:35 |
| URI: | https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/177210 |
Actions (repository staff only)
 |
Edit Item |
Altmetric
Altmetric