Testing the role of spatial structure in ecology and evolution
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Strathclyde
Department Name: Mathematics and Statistics
Abstract
See lead document
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Steven Webb (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Best A
(2011)
Host resistance and coevolution in spatially structured populations.
in Proceedings. Biological sciences
Best A
(2011)
Local transmission processes and disease-driven host extinctions
in Theoretical Ecology
Jones E
(2010)
The effect of landscape heterogeneity and host movement on a tick-borne pathogen
in Theoretical Ecology
Webb SD
(2013)
The role of spatial population structure on the evolution of parasites with acquired immunity and demography.
in Journal of theoretical biology
Webb SD
(2013)
A theoretical study of the role of spatial population structure in the evolution of parasite virulence.
in Theoretical population biology
| Description | Our work emphasizes the importance of spatial structure to parasite evolution. This spatial evolutionary theory is important because it predicts how different pathogens may respond to changes in patterns of mixing. We highlight the importance of landscape heterogeneity and the proximity and size of adjacent habitats when predicting disease risk in a particular location. In addition, our analysis could be useful for other pathogen systems with generalist vectors and may inform policy on possible disease management strategies that incorporate host movements. Our work also emphasises that local processes are essential in determining parasite-driven extinctions, and the role of parasites in the extinction of rare species may have been underplayed due to the classic assumption of global density-dependent transmission. |
| Exploitation Route | Some mathematical models are currently used to describe macroparasitic infections, but they are designed to describe helminth infections in terrestrial systems and are not adapted for aquatic systems. Ectoparasites, although common in aquatic systems do not occur in terrestrial systems (the closest analogy are ticks). Models have recently been developed to describe G.salaris on salmon. In particular an individual based model of the dynamics of parasites on a single host has been developed. However there are limitations with these models, particularly with respect to the distribution of parasites on hosts. Most models assume a negative binomial distribution, this is often confirmed with data when an infection is well established. However, the mechanism for the formation of these distribution is not well understood and it is not clear what the pattern of infection loads would be either at the beginning of an outbreak (if GS were to arrive in the UK) or following treatment. This lack of understanding makes it difficult to identify the best way to target treatment or what to expect immediately following treatment. Future work should focus on developing a new modelling approach which allows us to understand the dynamics and distribution of parasite loads per host under a range of different life history strategies and environmental conditions. |
| Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Healthcare |
| Description | This project filled an important gap in our understanding of the interactions of hosts and parasites by developing a detailed spatial theory of evolution of resistance. As such it made an important contribution to our ability to manage disease in a variety of important situations. It also developed spatial theory in general and so the contributions there are specific to disease risk management as well as to the development of the tools for studying evolutionary theory and spatial modelling. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2013 |
| Sector | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Healthcare |
| Description | Invited academic seminar |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Departmental seminar in which around 70 people attended from undergraduates to full academic staff with a range of disciplinary backgrounds. The presentation sparked questions and discussion afterwards. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |
| Description | Invited talk. Applied Mathematics Seminar. University of Birmingham. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Departmental seminar in which around 50 people attended from undergraduates to full academic staff with a range of disciplinary backgrounds. The presentation sparked questions and discussion afterwards. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2012 |
| Description | Invited talk. BAMC minisymposium on Mathematical Ecology and Evolution, Edinburgh. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Invited talk at the British Applied Mathematics Colloquia in which around 100 researchers people attended from a range of disciplinary backgrounds. The presentation sparked questions and discussion afterwards. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2010 |
| Description | Invited talk. Mathematical Biology Seminar. University of Bath. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Departmental seminar in which around 20 people attended from undergraduates to full academic staff with a range of disciplinary backgrounds. The presentation sparked questions and discussion afterwards. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013 |
| Description | Invited talk. Mathematics and Computing Seminar. Stirling University. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Departmental seminar in which around 30 people attended from undergraduates to full academic staff with a range of disciplinary backgrounds. The presentation sparked questions and discussion afterwards. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |
| Description | Invited talk. Maths-Bio-Medicine (MBM) Seminar. University of Leeds. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Departmental seminar in which around 40 people attended from undergraduates to full academic staff with a range of disciplinary backgrounds. The presentation sparked questions and discussion afterwards. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |