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Species that can make us ill thrive in human habitats

Does the conversion of natural habitats to human use favour animals that harbour agents causing human disease? A global analysis of vertebrates provides an answer to this pressing question.
  1. Richard S. Ostfeld

    1. Richard S. Ostfeld is at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, Millbrook, New York 12545, USA.

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  2. Felicia Keesing

    1. Felicia Keesing is in the Biology Program, Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson, New York 12504, USA.

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Humans have altered more than half of Earth’s habitable land to meet the needs of our burgeoning population1. The transformation of forests, grasslands and deserts into cities, suburbs and agricultural land has caused many species to decline or disappear, whereas others have thrived2. The losers tend to be ecological specialists, such as rhinoceros or ostriches, that have highly specific feeding or habitat requirements and that are comparatively larger, rarer and longer-lived than are non-specialists. The winners are often generalists that are small and abundant and that have ‘fast’, short lives, such as rats and starlings.

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Nature 584, 346-347 (2020)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-020-02189-5

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