Exploring the role of trophic interactions in shaping parasite dynamics in African savannas

For generalist parasites, trophic interactions among species represent important transmission opportunities. The frequency and timing of these opportunities can often determine parasite spread within multihost communities. Exploring the ecology of trophic interactions is therefore and important step towards understanding parasite transmission in complex systems. African savanna ecosystems contain diverse mammalian grazer assemblages that host generalist parasites. In addition, they have the added complexity of regularly burning, with fire and grazers both requiring grass for fuel/food. This results in trophic interactions among grazer species that can be facilitatory or competitive and that are modified by fire. Grazer-grazer and fire-grazer interactions can shape local vegetation structure and dictate where in the landscape grazers spend time and how regularly they interact with other animals. Because parasite transmission is impacted by host density and habitat structure, these trophic interactions should have major implications for parasite dynamics. In this seminar, I present a series of case studies that explore how interactions between grazers and fire influence parasite transmission in African savannas.