Infections and Diseases in Wildlife by Non-native Organisms

Abstract

Parasites and diseases can have important effects on both non-native and native species. In this chapter, several mechanisms for these processes are discussed, including the parasite immunocompetence advantage; novel weapons from spill-over of co-introduced parasites; parasite spill-back of native parasites to introduced species; and dilution effects that influence the success of an invader and the impacts on the invaded region. Trophic cascades can also have dramatic consequences of disease-related invasions, in which the invasion of parasites may ultimately lead to the extinction of native species through the disruption of biotic interactions in the invaded community. As there is no consensus on the service of biodiversity and conservation as a protection against diseases, the need to conduct research on the impacts of diseases associated with biological invasions on ecosystem regulating services is emphasised. Moreover, further investigation is prompted into better assessments of the ecological causes influencing disease spread in wildlife associated with invasive species, as these developments may ultimately affect human health.