Defining an epidemiological landscape that connects movement ecology to pathogen transmission and pace‐of‐life. (5th July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Manlove, Kezia; Wilber, Mark; White, Lauren; Bastille‐Rousseau, Guillaume; Yang, Anni; Gilbertson, Marie L. J.; Craft, Meggan E.; Cross, Paul C.; Wittemyer, George; Pepin, Kim M.
• Is Part Of: Ecology letters. Volume 25:Number 8(2022)
• Page Start: 1760
• Page End: 1782
• Publication Date: 2022-07-05
• Subjects: canonical activity mode -- epidemiological landscape -- host contact -- host mobility -- mining‐modelling approach -- movement mechanisms -- movement‐pathogen pace‐of‐life hypothesis -- multipartite networks -- spatial disease dynamics -- transmission hotspot; Ecology -- Periodicals; 577
• DOI: 10.1111/ele.14032
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1461-023X

Abstract

Abstract: Pathogen transmission depends on host density, mobility and contact. These components emerge from host and pathogen movements that themselves arise through interactions with the surrounding environment. The environment, the emergent host and pathogen movements, and the subsequent patterns of density, mobility and contact form an 'epidemiological landscape' connecting the environment to specific locations where transmissions occur. Conventionally, the epidemiological landscape has been described in terms of the geographical coordinates where hosts or pathogens are located. We advocate for an alternative approach that relates those locations to attributes of the local environment. Environmental descriptions can strengthen epidemiological forecasts by allowing for predictions even when local geographical data are not available. Environmental predictions are more accessible than ever thanks to new tools from movement ecology, and we introduce a 'movement‐pathogen pace of life' heuristic to help identify aspects of movement that have the most influence on spatial epidemiology. By linking pathogen transmission directly to the environment, the epidemiological landscape offers an efficient path for using environmental information to inform models describing when and where transmission will occur. Abstract : Pathogen transmission patterns emerge from host and pathogen movements that depend on the surrounding environment. Environment, host and pathogen movements, and emergent densities, mobilities, and contacts form an "epidemiological landscape" connecting the environment to specific locations where transmission can occur. Replacing conventional "geographic‐space" descriptions of the epidemiological landscape with descriptions based on the environment can improve predictions in new settings, and the movement‐pathogen pace‐of‐life hypothesis can help prioritize epidemiological landscape inquiries. Generating environmentally grounded predictions is more accessible than ever, thanks to new tools and concepts from movement ecology.