Abstract

Disease play an important role in the ecology of all animals, affecting both survival and reproduction of the hosts they infect. But the severity, and consequences of infection vary profoundly depending on factors of the host(s), the pathogen(s), and in interactions with the environment. The largest contribution to host-parasite research comes from studies of eukaryote parasites, and only recently ecologists have ventured into studies on smaller microbes, such as bacteria and viruses. In my talk, I will present data on influenza A virus infections in Mallards. My research group has investigated virus epidemiology and ecology in migratory ducks over the last 12 years in an effort to understand spatial and temporal variation in the interactions between the parasite and its host. The research covers both studies on the host, such as movement, migration and costs of being infected, and studies on virus evolution and consequences of host immunity.