Disease ecology is a sub-discipline of ecology concerned with the mechanisms, patterns, and effects of host-pathogen interactions, particularly those of infectious diseases.[1] For example, it examines how parasites spread through and influence wildlife populations and communities.[1][2] By studying the flow of diseases within the natural environment, scientists seek to better understand how changes within our environment can shape how pathogens, and other diseases, travel.[2] Therefore, diseases ecology seeks to understand the links between ecological interactions and disease evolution.[2] New emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases (infecting both wildlife and humans) are increasing at unprecedented rates which can have lasting impacts on public health, ecosystem health, and biodiversity.[3]
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- ^ a b Ostfeld (2015).
- ^ a b c Hawley & Altizer (2011), pp. 48–60.
- ^ Plowright et al. (2008), pp. 420–429.