Age specific impacts of vegetation functional traits on gastro-intestinal nematode parasite burdens in a large herbivore

Abstract

O_LIGastro-intestinal nematode (GIN) parasites play an important role in the ecological dynamics of many animal populations. Recent studies suggest fine-scale spatial variation in GIN infection dynamics are important in wildlife systems, but the environmental drivers underlying this variation remain poorly understood. C_LIO_LIWe used data from over two decades of GIN parasite egg counts, host space use, and spatial vegetation data from a long-term study of Soay sheep on St Kilda to test how spatial autocorrelation and vegetation in an individuals home range predict parasite burden across three age groups. We developed a novel approach to quantify the plant functional traits present in a home range to describe the quality of vegetation present. C_LIO_LIEffects of space and vegetation varied between age classes. In immature lambs, strongyle parasite faecal egg counts (FEC) were spatially structured, being highest in the north and south of our study area. Independent of host body weight and spatial autocorrelation, plant functional traits predicted parasite egg counts. Higher egg counts were associated with more digestible and preferred plant functional traits, suggesting the association could be driven by host density and habitat preference. C_LIO_LIIn contrast, we found no evidence that parasite FEC were related to plant functional traits in the host home range in yearlings or adult sheep. Adult FEC were spatially structured, with highest burdens in the north-east of our study area, while yearling FEC showed no evidence of spatial structuring. C_LIO_LIOur findings support the importance of fine-scale environmental variation for wildlife disease ecology and provides new evidence that such effects may vary across demographic groups within a population. Parasite burdens in immature individuals appear more readily influenced by fine-scale spatial variation in the environment, highlighting the importance of such heterogeneity for our understanding of wildlife epidemiology and health. C_LI