Infectious disease transmission is driven by a complex suite of drivers with behavior and landscape dynamics contributing to epidemics across host-pathogen systems. However, our understanding of the interaction between landscape, behavior, and infectious disease remains limited. In the banded mongoose (Mungos mungo), a novel tuberculosis pathogen, Mycobacterium mungi, has emerged in Northern Botswana that is transmitted through olfactory communication behaviors. Using this host-pathogen system, this thesis explores the influence of various land use areas along the human-wildlife interface on animal behavior, and ultimately, pathogen transmission potential. Using behavior data from remote sensing camera traps, a generalized linear mixed model identified vigilance behavior, land use, and their interaction as important factors in predicting olfactory behavior. Cluster and Classification and Regression Tree (CART) analysis of active den sites (n= 308, across 23 troops) identified the important characteristics of dens across land use areas. In human-modified environments, man-made den sites persisted longer than did natural dens which became unsuitable through environmental processes (e.g., collapse). We also document the occurrence of nighttime activity for this species, perceived to be strictly diurnal. These data provide information critical to the development of robust computational models and underscore the importance of both landscape and behavior in accurately predicting and managing infectious disease outbreaks. / M. S. / The overall objective of this thesis was to identify the manner in which changing landscapes may influence disease transmission. Differences in host behavior across the landscape can influence pathogen transmission. Banded mongooses (Mungos mungo) are infected with a tuberculosis pathogen (Mycobacterium mungi) that is transmitted through olfactory secretions used for communication. We studied how olfactory communication is influenced by land type (i.e., lodge, national park, residential, undeveloped, and urban) and vigilance behavior. The vigilance behaviors that allow mongooses to avoid predators and competitors had a positive influence on olfaction behavior in some land use areas, but a negative influence on others. We also examined the characteristics of den sites used by banded mongooses in relation to different land use areas. Den sites in human-mediated land use areas were often man-made, remained in use for much longer than natural den sites, and were used by multiple troops. These findings suggest that landscape can be a driving force influencing behavior, and subsequently disease transmission. Understanding the influence of anthropogenically modified landscapes on disease transmission will be key to managing wildlife species.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:VTETD/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/95936 |
| Date | 12 June 2018 |
| Creators | Nichols, Carol Anne |
| Contributors | Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Alexander, Kathleen A., Frimpong, Emmanuel A., Walters, Jeffrey R. |
| Publisher | Virginia Tech |
| Source Sets | Virginia Tech Theses and Dissertation |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Format | ETD, application/pdf |
| Rights | In Copyright, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ |
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