CANBERRA, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) -- The tight-knit social lives of whales and dolphins could help infectious diseases spread rapidly through populations of rare or threatened species, an Australian study said Friday.
Marine mammal experts warn of the potential of pandemics in marine environments, with some species more vulnerable than others, said a statement from Australia's Flinders University.
The research reveals why understanding marine mammals' social networks is critical for predicting and managing disease outbreaks in oceans already under siege with pressures from climate change, pollution and human activities, it said.
Infectious disease transmission in marine mammals is understudied, posing a particular risk for more than one-quarter of the species classified as threatened, said Guido J. Parra, associate professor from Flinder University's Cetacean Ecology, Behavior and Evolution Lab (CEBEL).
"Disease is one of the leading causes of mortality in marine vertebrates, along with fisheries interactions, pollution, habitat degradation and climate change," said Parra.
"These stressors tend to weaken immune systems and make animals more vulnerable to infection," he said, adding that marine mammals have social networks like people that spread disease, and understanding inter- and intra-species links is key to targeted conservation.
Lead author Caitlin Nicholls, PhD candidate with the CEBEL, said that highly connected individuals, known as "super spreaders," often play an outsized role in disease spread through frequent social interactions.
"Unlike on land, scientists cannot easily observe every interaction, isolate sick individuals, or intervene early when disease begins to spread," said Nicholls.
Dolphins with stronger or more frequent social ties are more likely to be associated with disease, according to their findings published in Mammal Review, which used historic research spanning decades to model different species behaviors to map social connections and patterns.
Prevention, early detection and informed management are critical for vulnerable populations before outbreaks strike, Parra said.
He said understanding social relationships can pinpoint at-risk individuals, with targeted monitoring of socially central animals offering early warnings and habitat protection to reduce transmission risk. ■
