Article
Plant Sciences
Nicholas C. Carleson, Hazel A. Daniels, Paul W. Reeser, Alan Kanaskie, Sarah M. Navarro, Jared M. LeBoldus, Niklaus J. Grunwald
Summary: The study contrasts the population dynamics of sudden oak death caused by Phytophthora ramorum in Oregon between the NA1 lineage outbreak in 2001 and the emergence of the EU1 lineage in 2015. The EU1 lineage showed low diversity and spatial clustering, while the older NA1 populations were more polymorphic and spread over a larger area.
Article
Microbiology
Melina Kozanitas, Margaret R. Metz, Todd W. Osmundson, Maria Socorro Serrano, Matteo Garbelotto
Summary: This study indicates that the disease incidence of bay laurels is positively correlated with rainfall, bay laurel density, and an eastern aspect, while negatively correlated with bay laurel basal area. Oak infection only occurs in years with above-average rainfall, and larger oaks have higher infection rates but smaller trees have higher mortality rates. Larger oaks closer to infected bay laurels also exhibit higher infection rates.
Article
Plant Sciences
Lisa M. Rosenthal, Sebastian N. Fajardo, David M. Rizzo
Summary: This study quantitatively measured the sporulation potential of common plant species in SOD-endemic ecosystems in the Big Sur region of California, providing insight into the pathogen's basic biology and disease trajectory in a changing environment. Results showed that P. ramorum was capable of infecting every species studied and that a wider range of plant species may contribute to local transmission than previously recognized.
Article
Plant Sciences
Hazel A. Daniels, Sarah M. Navarro, Jared M. LeBoldus
Summary: Sudden oak death, caused by Phytophthora ramorum, has been actively managed in Oregon. Treatment has been shown to significantly reduce prevalence of P. ramorum in vegetation samples and in the EU1 lineage. However, treatment did not affect P. ramorum prevalence in soil. Wildfire alone was also insufficient to reduce P. ramorum prevalence.
Article
Agronomy
Anna R. Harris, Clive M. Brasier, Bruno Scanu, Joan F. Webber
Summary: In this study, the growth characteristics, pathogenicity on different hosts, and sporulation on Japanese larch needles of EU1 and EU2 were compared. Results showed that EU2 was more pathogenic at 20 degrees C on Japanese larch and European larch, producing larger lesions. Both lineages caused similar amounts of necrosis on rhododendron leaves, but EU2 isolates sporulated less abundantly on larch needles, indicating a trade-off between pathogenicity and sporulation among the lineages.
Article
Plant Sciences
Jerry E. Weiland, Carolyn F. Scagel, Niklaus J. Grunwald, E. Anne Davis, Bryan R. Beck
Summary: Soil drench application of fungicides is more effective for controlling Phytophthora root rot caused by P. cinnamomi, while foliar sprays are ineffective for P. plurivora. Sensitivity to phosphorous acid and mefenoxam varies among Phytophthora spp. and isolates, with some isolates being fungicide-insensitive, especially within P. plurivora.
Article
Plant Sciences
Cai H. Thompson, Mitchell M. McCartney, Tatiana Roubtsova, Takao Kasuga, Susan E. Ebeler, Cristina E. Davis, Richard M. Bostock
Summary: Phytophthora ramorum is an invasive pathogen causing ramorum blight and sudden oak death, with asymptomatic infections in nursery stock creating unacceptable risk. A VOC-based test successfully detected P. ramorum infections in Rhododendron plants, with unique changes induced by different pathogens. Predicting infection status was successful from ambient volatiles, while extracted leaf volatiles resulted in lower accuracy.
Article
Plant Sciences
Carolyn F. Scagel, Jerry E. Weiland, Bryan R. Beck, Jesse N. Mitchell
Summary: Temperature has a significant impact on the biology and response to fungicides of Phytophthora spp. Different species have different optimal temperatures and responses to temperature and fungicides. These findings help define the optimal temperature and application conditions for fungicides.
Article
Plant Sciences
Gabriel O. Sacher, Carolyn F. Scagel, E. Anne Davis, Bryan R. Beck, Jerry E. Weiland
Summary: Phytophthora root rot is a destructive disease of rhododendron with different species of Phytophthora causing various levels of root rot.
Article
Plant Sciences
Richard M. Bostock, Tatiana Roubtsova
Summary: Research has shown that excess salt can weaken the efficacy of chemical soil treatments and increase fungal colonization of roots; meanwhile, water deficit can eliminate protection against fungi.
Article
Plant Sciences
Kelsey L. Sondreli, Javier F. Tabima, Jared M. Leboldus
Summary: This study aimed to develop and validate diagnostic tools to rapidly identify and distinguish the lineages of P. ramorum, accelerating management decisions. The LAMP assays developed showed species specificity with no cross reaction to other Phytophthora species. The lineage-specific assays effectively distinguish among the four common clonal lineages. These assays have been successfully integrated into the SOD diagnostic process, helping managers identify and respond to new outbreaks.
Article
Forestry
Dora Straus, Maria Caballol, Francesc Serrado, Josep Oliveras, Xavier Ramis, Jonas Oliva
Summary: The decline of trees caused by exotic Phytophthora pathogens is a significant problem worldwide. This study found that forests with high recreational use are more susceptible to Phytophthora attack compared to forests with low recreational use in Catalonia. The presence of Phytophthora is associated with defoliation and low regeneration of trees.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Kelsey L. Sondreli, Alan Kanaskie, Sarah M. Navarro, Paul Reeser, Jared M. LeBoldus
Summary: Phytophthora ramorum, the causal agent of sudden oak death, has different clonal lineages NA1 and EU1. Recent experiments show that these lineages pose different threats to Oregon forests, but there were no significant differences in aggressiveness and sporulation on different tree species. Furthermore, variation in tanoak sporulation at different sites may be correlated with the number of P. ramorum-positive seedlings.
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Ayaka Hieno, Mingzhu Li, Kayoko Otsubo, Haruhisa Suga, Koji Kageyama
Summary: Phytophthora species cause destructive plant diseases globally, and the establishment of a detection method using LAMP technology allows for accurate identification of Phytophthora pathogens. Utilizing multiplex LAMP assays enables precise detection of various Phytophthora species while avoiding undesirable negative results.
MICROBES AND ENVIRONMENTS
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Heather F. Dun, John J. MacKay, Sarah Green
Summary: This study focuses on the natural infection processes of Phytophthora ramorum on Japanese larch and the factors influencing disease progression. It found that the infection primarily occurs in buds on fine shoots and that climatic conditions, such as summer precipitation and spring storms, play a significant role in disease outbreaks. The findings can help predict future expansions of the disease and inform management strategies for larch in the UK.
Article
Entomology
Carlos Barcelo, Bethan Purse, Rosa Estrada, Javier Lucientes, Miguel A. Miranda, Kate R. Searle
Summary: The study analyzed the phenology of insect vectors of Bluetongue virus in wild and domestic ruminants in different locations in Spain, finding significant effects of various environmental factors on the seasonality of female insects.
JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Louise J. Barwell, Ana Perez-Sierra, Beatrice Henricot, Anna Harris, Treena I. Burgess, Giles Hardy, Peter Scott, Nari Williams, David E. L. Cooke, Sarah Green, Daniel S. Chapman, Bethan V. Purse
Summary: Plant pathogens are increasingly introduced to new geographical regions due to global connectivity, and predicting their threat can be challenging without deep knowledge of their behavior, distribution, and spread. This study assesses the potential of using biological traits and phylogeny to predict global threats from emerging pathogens, finding that traits, phylogeny, and time since description play significant roles in explaining and predicting their international transport, maximum latitude, and host breadth. Root-attacking species are more widely distributed and attack more host plant families than foliar-attacking species, while host generalist pathogens have certain traits that contribute to their success in various environments. More accurate interspecific data are needed to confirm findings related to cold-tolerant species. The study suggests the development of international collaborations to create centralized databases for pathogen distributions, traits, and phylogeny to support horizon-scanning approaches for identifying potential global threats from pathogens like Phytophthora species.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Festus A. Asaaga, Mujeeb Rahman, Suresh D. Kalegowda, Jagadeesh Mathapati, Irfanahemad Savanur, Prashanth N. Srinivas, Tanya Seshadri, Darshan Narayanswamy, Shivani K. Kiran, Meera A. Oommen, Juliette C. Young, Bethan Purse
Summary: The study found that although awareness about Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) was limited, access to disease information increased households' likelihood to implement adaptation strategies. Household barriers to implementing adaptation strategies included lack of disease information, low efficacy of existing vaccines, distrust, religio-cultural sentiments, and livelihood concerns.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Biology
Theo Michelot, Richard Glennie, Catriona Harris, Len Thomas
Summary: Stochastic differential equations (SDEs) are popular tools for analyzing time series data in various fields, providing mechanistic descriptions with interpretable parameters. A flexible SDE model is proposed with time-varying dynamics based on nonparametric functions of covariates, allowing for capturing detailed, non-stationary features of data-generating processes. A computationally efficient method of approximate inference is presented, demonstrating versatility and utility in ecology applications where a trade-off between interpretability and flexibility often exists.
JOURNAL OF AGRICULTURAL BIOLOGICAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL STATISTICS
(2021)
Review
Infectious Diseases
Sarah J. Burthe, Stefanie M. Schafer, Festus A. Asaaga, Natrajan Balakrishnan, Mohammed Mudasssar Chanda, Narayanaswamy Darshan, Subhash L. Hoti, Shivani K. Kiran, Tanya Seshadri, Prashanth N. Srinivas, Abi T. Vanak, Bethan V. Purse
Summary: Zoonotic diseases, particularly affecting tropical communities, are often managed through human medical treatments, but there are alternative interventions targeting vectors or wildlife hosts that may be more effective. Improved ecological understanding can lead to a broader suite of management options.
PLOS NEGLECTED TROPICAL DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rebecca A. Dunlop, Janelle Braithwaite, Lars O. Mortensen, Catriona M. Harris
Summary: The PCoD model is a conceptual framework used to assess the population-level consequences of animals exposed to disturbance activities. Researchers applied this framework to migrating humpback whales exposed to a simulated commercial seismic survey scenario, using both a forwards and backwards approach to assess potential impacts. Results suggested a low potential for population consequences of seismic surveys on migrating humpbacks.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
F. A. Asaaga, J. C. Young, M. A. Oommen, R. Chandarana, J. August, J. Joshi, M. M. Chanda, A. T. Vanak, P. N. Srinivas, S. L. Hoti, T. Seshadri, B. Purse
Summary: This study explores the facilitators of and barriers to successful convergence between the human, animal, and environmental health sectors in India to address zoonotic diseases. Despite the importance of cross-sectoral collaboration, factors like limited policy visibility, conflicting departmental priorities, and institutional capacities hinder effective collaboration. Strengthening national policy frameworks and building on existing informal relationships and collaboration platforms are suggested as ways forward for improved disease surveillance and interventions.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ian N. Durbach, Catriona M. Harris, Cameron Martin, Tyler A. Helble, E. Elizabeth Henderson, Glenn Ierley, Len Thomas, Stephen W. Martin
Summary: This study found that individual minke whales exhibited horizontal avoidance or ceasing to call behaviors in response to sonar during U.S. Navy training activities. The responses varied significantly among individuals, but overall showed faster and more directed movement with a mean direction away from sonar-producing ships, as well as an increased likelihood of ceasing calling during sonar exposure.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Sophie Bennett, Sarah Wanless, Michael P. Harris, Mark A. Newell, Kate Searle, Jonathan A. Green, Francis Daunt
Summary: Density-dependent and site-dependent regulation provide resilience to wild populations. Higher quality sites are disproportionately used at lower population sizes, leading to a buffer effect. However, the establishment of new, lower quality sites during population decline and recovery can slow population recovery.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Phil J. Bouchet, Catriona M. Harris, Len Thomas
Summary: The study examined the impact of different tags on the behavioral responses of cetaceans to sonar exposure, revealing an underestimation of the impact zone in most test conditions. Significant reductions in uncertainty surrounding dose-response relationships can be achieved with higher sample sizes. Strategic monitoring combining archival biologging and satellite biotelemetry is essential for characterizing complex behavioral changes in cetaceans exposed to increasing levels of acoustic disturbance.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Kate R. Searle, Adam Butler, James J. Waggitt, Peter G. H. Evans, Maria Bogdanova, N. Thompson Hobbs, Francis Daunt, Sarah Wanless
Summary: Understanding how ecological processes shape population dynamics is crucial. This study examines the density dependence in upper trophic marine species in relation to temporal variation in climate and spatiotemporal variation in food resources. The results show that temporal variation in climate strengthens density dependent feedbacks to population growth, while spatiotemporal variation in prey resources has a weaker effect on density dependence.
JOURNAL OF ANIMAL ECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Sophie Bennett, Mike P. Harris, Sarah Wanless, Jonathan A. Green, Mark A. Newell, Kate R. Searle, Francis Daunt
Summary: Competition for high-quality breeding sites is intense in colonial species. This study found that occupancy of breeding sites during the non-breeding season is related to site quality, breeding timing, and breeding success. Sites with longer and more frequent occupancy tend to have earlier breeding timing and higher breeding success rates.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Enrico Pirotta, Robert S. Schick, Philip K. Hamilton, Catriona M. Harris, Joshua Hewitt, Amy R. Knowlton, Scott D. Kraus, Erin Meyer-Gutbrod, Michael J. Moore, Heather M. Pettis, Theoni Photopoulou, Rosalind M. Rolland, Peter L. Tyack, Len Thomas
Summary: Quantifying the cumulative effects of stressors on individuals and populations can inform the development of effective management and conservation strategies. We developed a Bayesian state-space model to assess the effects of multiple stressors on individual survival and reproduction. The model takes into account changes in underlying health caused by the stressors and can be applied to any long-lived species with suitable health indicators and long-term monitoring data.
Article
Biology
Peter L. Tyack, Len Thomas, Daniel P. Costa, Ailsa J. Hall, Catriona M. Harris, John Harwood, Scott D. Kraus, Patrick J. O. Miller, Michael Moore, Theoni Photopoulou, Enrico Pirotta, Rosalind M. Rolland, Lori H. Schwacke, Samantha E. Simmons, Brandon L. Southall
Summary: This article advocates for a new approach to assess the cumulative risk of multiple stressors on protected wildlife populations within ecosystems. Studying mechanistic pathways can help prioritize stressors and interpret their interactions. Integrating methods from the human health field into ecosystem management can protect wildlife populations and prevent species extinction.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY B-BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Review
Fisheries
K. R. Searle, S. H. O'Brien, E. L. Jones, A. S. C. P. Cook, M. N. Trinder, R. M. McGregor, C. Donovan, A. McCluskie, F. Daunt, A. Butler
Summary: Governments worldwide are facing challenges in offshore renewable energy development (ORD) due to a lack of understanding of the environmental consequences, especially on protected birds. The impacts of ORD on marine birds are complex and uncertain, hindering the decision-making process. This study reviews the methods used in the UK to estimate ornithological ORD impacts and proposes a framework to quantify and reduce uncertainty, providing recommendations for future risk reduction. These findings have implications for impact assessments in other countries as well.
ICES JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)