Chapter 5 (Disease) Flashcards
How can captivity increase the risk of disease?
-They are in closer contact (higher density areas) easier to transmit disease
-There may be inbreeding which could decrease adaptations to disease
How might actions that limit dispersal make a species more at risk of catching a disease?
The animals would not be able to leave the infected area, could cause increased inbreeding that decrease biodiversity
Why is fragmentation of habitat thought to put wild species at risk of catching disease?
-Reduce dispersal
-reduce foraging ability
-increased pop. Density
-increased edge, greater contact with domestic animals
What may have been the origin of chronic wasting disease in wild deer and elk populations? What causes this disease?
-Possibly private ranches
-Prions
What disease currently threatens several North American bat species (such as the little brown bat)?
-White nose disease
What is the dilution effect? How does it affect the spread of disease?
-Biodiversity decreases transmission
-Would decrease the spread of disease
Could you discuss an example of a disease that has passed from wildlife to humans? What changes may make this more common?
-West nile virus (mosquitos)
-Global warming
-lyme disease (ticks)
How can the loss of a predator increase the spread of a disease/parasite in a human population?
-The pop of the species that spread the disease increase
What do humans do to increase the susceptibility and spread of disease among wild populations? (or between domestic and wild populations!)
-They introduce exotic species
-exacerbating global warming
-increasing fragmentation
-bring domestic animals nearer to wildlife
-Habitat degradation
How can Climate change affect the spread of disease in human populations?
Makes it easier for species that carry the disease to spread
How can genetically modified organisms be used to fight disease? Could you discuss an example?
-Could help eradicate pest species, could change genetic cargo
-Mosquitos
What is a gene drive? Why is this different from other GMOs? Do you think we should be release GMO animals with gene drives into the wild?
-Alters the gene in a way that it is always inherited
-does not eradicate the species
-Could be beneficial, however could go horribly wrong.
