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West Nile virus emergence and large-scale declines of North American bird populations

Author

Listed:
  • Shannon L. LaDeau

    (Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center, National Zoological Park, Washington DC 20008, USA)

  • A. Marm Kilpatrick

    (Consortium for Conservation Medicine, New York, New York 10001, USA)

  • Peter P. Marra

    (Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center, National Zoological Park, Washington DC 20008, USA)

Abstract

Emerging infectious diseases present a formidable challenge to the conservation of native species in the twenty-first century1. Diseases caused by introduced pathogens have had large impacts on species abundances2, including the American chestnut3, Hawaiian bird species4 and many amphibians5. Changes in host population sizes can lead to marked shifts in community composition and ecosystem functioning3,4,6. However, identifying the impacts of an introduced disease and distinguishing it from other forces that influence population dynamics (for example, climate7) is challenging and requires abundance data that extend before and after the introduction2,5. Here we use 26 yr of Breeding Bird Survey (BBS)8 data to determine the impact of West Nile virus (WNV) on 20 potential avian hosts across North America. We demonstrate significant changes in population trajectories for seven species from four families that concur with a priori predictions and the spatio-temporal intensity of pathogen transmission. The American crow population declined by up to 45% since WNV arrival, and only two of the seven species with documented impact recovered to pre-WNV levels by 2005. Our findings demonstrate the potential impacts of an invasive species on a diverse faunal assemblage across broad geographical scales, and underscore the complexity of subsequent community response.

Suggested Citation

  • Shannon L. LaDeau & A. Marm Kilpatrick & Peter P. Marra, 2007. "West Nile virus emergence and large-scale declines of North American bird populations," Nature, Nature, vol. 447(7145), pages 710-713, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:447:y:2007:i:7145:d:10.1038_nature05829
    DOI: 10.1038/nature05829
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    Cited by:

    1. Alexander C Keyel & Oliver Elison Timm & P Bryon Backenson & Catharine Prussing & Sarah Quinones & Kathleen A McDonough & Mathias Vuille & Jan E Conn & Philip M Armstrong & Theodore G Andreadis & Laur, 2019. "Seasonal temperatures and hydrological conditions improve the prediction of West Nile virus infection rates in Culex mosquitoes and human case counts in New York and Connecticut," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(6), pages 1-32, June.
    2. Lora Billings & Luis Mier-y-Teran-Romero & Brandon Lindley & Ira B Schwartz, 2013. "Intervention-Based Stochastic Disease Eradication," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(8), pages 1-9, August.
    3. Cécile Beck & Miguel Angel Jimenez-Clavero & Agnès Leblond & Benoît Durand & Norbert Nowotny & Isabelle Leparc-Goffart & Stéphan Zientara & Elsa Jourdain & Sylvie Lecollinet, 2013. "Flaviviruses in Europe: Complex Circulation Patterns and Their Consequences for the Diagnosis and Control of West Nile Disease," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-35, November.
    4. Ludivine Taieb & Antoinette Ludwig & Nick H. Ogden & Robbin L. Lindsay & Mahmood Iranpour & Carl A. Gagnon & Dominique J. Bicout, 2020. "Bird Species Involved in West Nile Virus Epidemiological Cycle in Southern Québec," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(12), pages 1-19, June.
    5. Luisa Barzon & Monia Pacenti & Elisa Franchin & Laura Squarzon & Enrico Lavezzo & Margherita Cattai & Riccardo Cusinato & Giorgio Palù, 2013. "The Complex Epidemiological Scenario of West Nile Virus in Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-21, September.
    6. Ryan J Harrigan & Henri A Thomassen & Wolfgang Buermann & Robert F Cummings & Matthew E Kahn & Thomas B Smith, 2010. "Economic Conditions Predict Prevalence of West Nile Virus," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 5(11), pages 1-8, November.
    7. Aagaard, Kevin & Lockwood, Julie L. & Green, Edwin J., 2016. "A Bayesian approach for characterizing uncertainty in declaring a population collapse," Ecological Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 328(C), pages 78-84.
    8. Michael C. Wimberly & Paolla Giacomo & Lon Kightlinger & Michael B. Hildreth, 2013. "Spatio-Temporal Epidemiology of Human West Nile Virus Disease in South Dakota," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-19, October.
    9. Andriani Marka & Alexandros Diamantidis & Anna Papa & George Valiakos & Serafeim C. Chaintoutis & Dimitrios Doukas & Persefoni Tserkezou & Alexios Giannakopoulos & Konstantinos Papaspyropoulos & Eleni, 2013. "West Nile Virus State of the Art Report of MALWEST Project," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-77, December.
    10. Marcela Suarez-Rubio & Scott Wilson & Peter Leimgruber & Todd Lookingbill, 2013. "Threshold Responses of Forest Birds to Landscape Changes around Exurban Development," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 8(6), pages 1-11, June.
    11. Johnny A. Uelmen & Charles Brokopp & Jonathan Patz, 2020. "A 15 Year Evaluation of West Nile Virus in Wisconsin: Effects on Wildlife and Human Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(5), pages 1-24, March.

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