The role of infectious diseases in biological conservation

Abstract

Recent increases in the magnitude and rate of environmental change, including habitat loss, climate change, overexploitation, invasive species and environmental pollution have been directly linked to the global loss of biodiversity. Wildlife extinction rates are estimated to be 100–1000 times greater than the historical norm, and up to 50% of higher taxonomic groups are critically endangered. Infectious disease has rarely been cited as the primary cause of global species extinctions. In this review, we seek to accomplish four objectives. First, to summarize existing knowledge of disease-induced extinction at global and local scales and review the ecological and evolutionary forces that facilitate disease-mediated extinction risk. Third, to identify science-backed control strategies that may significantly reduce the negative effects of disease on wildlife. Fourth, to consider the most critical challenges and future directions for the study of infectious diseases in the conservation sciences. – AI-generated abstract.