Publications of James Herrera    :chronological  alphabetical  combined listing:

%% Journal Articles   
@article{fds345406,
   Author = {Herrera, J and Nunn, CL},
   Title = {Behavioural ecology and infectious disease: implications for
             conservation of biodiversity.},
   Journal = {Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London.
             Series B, Biological Sciences},
   Volume = {374},
   Number = {1781},
   Pages = {20180054},
   Year = {2019},
   Month = {September},
   url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2018.0054},
   Abstract = {Behaviour underpins interactions among conspecifics and
             between species, with consequences for the transmission of
             disease-causing parasites. Because many parasites lead to
             declines in population size and increased risk of extinction
             for threatened species, understanding the link between host
             behaviour and disease transmission is particularly important
             for conservation management. Here, we consider the
             intersection of behaviour, ecology and parasite
             transmission, broadly encompassing micro- and
             macroparasites. We focus on behaviours that have direct
             impacts on transmission, as well as the behaviours that
             result from infection. Given the important role of parasites
             in host survival and reproduction, the effects of behaviour
             on parasitism can scale up to population-level processes,
             thus affecting species conservation. Understanding how
             conservation and infectious disease control strategies
             actually affect transmission potential can therefore often
             only be understood through a behavioural lens. We highlight
             how behavioural perspectives of disease ecology apply to
             conservation by reviewing the different ways that
             behavioural ecology influences parasite transmission and
             conservation goals. This article is part of the theme issue
             'Linking behaviour to dynamics of populations and
             communities: application of novel approaches in behavioural
             ecology to conservation'.},
   Doi = {10.1098/rstb.2018.0054},
   Key = {fds345406}
}

@article{fds344740,
   Author = {Herrera, JP and Chakraborty, D and Rushmore, J and Altizer, S and Nunn,
             C},
   Title = {The changing ecology of primate parasites: Insights from
             wild-captive comparisons.},
   Journal = {American Journal of Primatology},
   Volume = {81},
   Number = {7},
   Pages = {e22991},
   Year = {2019},
   Month = {July},
   url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ajp.22991},
   Abstract = {Host movements, including migrations or range expansions,
             are known to influence parasite communities. Transitions to
             captivity-a rarely studied yet widespread human-driven host
             movement-can also change parasite communities, in some cases
             leading to pathogen spillover among wildlife species, or
             between wildlife and human hosts. We compared parasite
             species richness between wild and captive populations of 22
             primate species, including macro- (helminths and arthropods)
             and micro-parasites (viruses, protozoa, bacteria, and
             fungi). We predicted that captive primates would have only a
             subset of their native parasite community, and would possess
             fewer parasites with complex life cycles requiring
             intermediate hosts or vectors. We further predicted that
             captive primates would have parasites transmitted by close
             contact and environmentally-including those shared with
             humans and other animals, such as commensals and pests. We
             found that the composition of primate parasite communities
             shifted in captive populations, especially because of
             turnover (parasites detected in captivity but not reported
             in the wild), but with some evidence of nestedness
             (holdovers from the wild). Because of the high degree of
             turnover, we found no significant difference in overall
             parasite richness between captive and wild primates.
             Vector-borne parasites were less likely to be found in
             captivity, whereas parasites transmitted through either
             close or non-close contact, including through fecal-oral
             transmission, were more likely to be newly detected in
             captivity. These findings identify parasites that require
             monitoring in captivity and raise concerns about the
             introduction of novel parasites to potentially susceptible
             wildlife populations during reintroduction
             programs.},
   Doi = {10.1002/ajp.22991},
   Key = {fds344740}
}

@article{fds339739,
   Author = {Herrera, JP and Borgerson, C and Tongasoa, L and Andriamahazoarivosoa,
             P and Rasolofoniaina, BJR and Rakotondrafarasata, ER and Randrianasolo, JLRR and Johnson, SE and Wright, PC and Golden,
             CD},
   Title = {Estimating the population size of lemurs based on their
             mutualistic food trees},
   Journal = {Journal of Biogeography},
   Volume = {45},
   Number = {11},
   Pages = {2546-2563},
   Publisher = {WILEY},
   Year = {2018},
   Month = {November},
   url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/jbi.13409},
   Abstract = {© 2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd Aim: Species’ distributions
             and abundances are primarily determined by the suitability
             of environmental conditions, including climate and
             interactions with sympatric species, but also increasingly
             by human activities. Modelling tools can help in assessing
             the extinction risk of affected species. By combining
             species distribution modelling of abiotic and biotic niches
             with population size modelling, we estimated the abundance
             of 19 lemur taxa in three regions, especially focusing on 10
             species that are considered Endangered or Critically
             Endangered. Location: Madagascar. Taxa: Lemurs (Primates)
             and angiosperm trees. Methods: We used climate data, field
             samples, and published occurrence data on trees to construct
             species distribution models (SDM) for lemur food tree
             species. We then inferred the SDMs for lemurs based on the
             probability of occurrence of their food trees as well as
             climate. Finally, we used tree SDMs, topography, distance to
             the forest edge, and field estimates of lemur population
             density to predict lemur abundance in general linear models.
             Results: The SDMs of lemur food trees were stronger
             predictors of the occurrence of lemurs than climate. The
             predicted probability of presence of food trees, slope,
             elevation, and distance from the forest edge were
             significant correlates of lemur density. We found that
             sixteen species had minimum estimated abundances greater
             than 10,000 individuals over >1,000km2. Three lemur species
             are especially threatened, with less than 2,500 individuals
             predicted for Cheirogaleus sibreei, and heavy hunting
             pressure for the relatively small populations of Indri indri
             and Hapalemur occidentalis. Main conclusions: Biotic
             interactors were important variables in SDMs for lemurs,
             allowing refined estimates of ranges and abundances. This
             paper provides an analytical workflow that can be applied to
             other taxonomic groups to substantiate estimates of
             species’ vulnerability to extinction.},
   Doi = {10.1111/jbi.13409},
   Key = {fds339739}
}

@article{fds337584,
   Author = {Herrera, JP},
   Title = {Primate diversification inferred from phylogenies and
             fossils.},
   Journal = {Evolution; International Journal of Organic
             Evolution},
   Volume = {71},
   Number = {12},
   Pages = {2845-2857},
   Year = {2017},
   Month = {December},
   url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/evo.13366},
   Abstract = {Biodiversity arises from the balance between speciation and
             extinction. Fossils record the origins and disappearance of
             organisms, and the branching patterns of molecular
             phylogenies allow estimation of speciation and extinction
             rates, but the patterns of diversification are frequently
             incongruent between these two data sources. I tested two
             hypotheses about the diversification of primates based on
             ∼600 fossil species and 90% complete phylogenies of living
             species: (1) diversification rates increased through time;
             (2) a significant extinction event occurred in the
             Oligocene. Consistent with the first hypothesis, analyses of
             phylogenies supported increasing speciation rates and
             negligible extinction rates. In contrast, fossils showed
             that while speciation rates increased, speciation and
             extinction rates tended to be nearly equal, resulting in
             zero net diversification. Partially supporting the second
             hypothesis, the fossil data recorded a clear pattern of
             diversity decline in the Oligocene, although diversification
             rates were near zero. The phylogeny supported increased
             extinction ∼34 Ma, but also elevated extinction ∼10 Ma,
             coinciding with diversity declines in some fossil clades.
             The results demonstrated that estimates of speciation and
             extinction ignoring fossils are insufficient to infer
             diversification and information on extinct lineages should
             be incorporated into phylogenetic analyses.},
   Doi = {10.1111/evo.13366},
   Key = {fds337584}
}

@article{fds337585,
   Author = {Herrera, JP},
   Title = {The Effects of Biogeography and Biotic Interactions on Lemur
             Community Assembly},
   Journal = {International Journal of Primatology},
   Volume = {38},
   Number = {4},
   Pages = {692-716},
   Publisher = {Springer Nature},
   Year = {2017},
   Month = {August},
   url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10764-017-9974-9},
   Abstract = {© 2017, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC. Geographic
             patterns of biodiversity result from broad-scale
             biogeographic and present-day ecological processes. The aim
             of this study was to investigate the relative importance of
             biogeographic history and ecology driving patterns of
             diversity in modern primate communities in Madagascar. I
             collected data on endemic lemur species co-occurrence from
             range maps and survey literature for 100 communities in
             protected areas. I quantified and compared taxonomic,
             phylogenetic, and functional dimensions of intra- and
             intersite diversity. I tested environmental and geographic
             predictors of diversity and endemism. I calculated
             deforestation rates within protected areas between the years
             2000 and 2014, and tested if diversity is related to forest
             cover and loss. I found the phylogenetic structure of lemur
             communities could be explained primarily by remotely sensed
             plant productivity, supporting the hypothesis that there was
             ecological differentiation among ecoregions, while
             functional-trait disparity was not strongly related to
             environment. Taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity also
             increased with increasing topographic heterogeneity. Beta
             diversity was explained by both differences in ecology among
             localities and potential river barriers. Approximately
             3000 km2 were deforested in protected areas since the year
             2000, threatening the most diverse communities (up to
             31%/park). The strong positive association of plant
             productivity and topographic heterogeneity with lemur
             diversity indicates that high productivity, rugged
             landscapes support greater diversity. Both ecology and river
             barriers influenced lemur community ecology and
             biogeography. These results underscore the need for focused
             conservation efforts to slow the loss of irreplaceable
             evolutionary and ecological diversity.},
   Doi = {10.1007/s10764-017-9974-9},
   Key = {fds337585}
}

@article{fds337586,
   Author = {Herrera, JP},
   Title = {Prioritizing protected areas in Madagascar for lemur
             diversity using a multidimensional perspective},
   Journal = {Biological Conservation},
   Volume = {207},
   Pages = {1-8},
   Publisher = {Elsevier BV},
   Year = {2017},
   Month = {March},
   url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2016.12.028},
   Abstract = {© 2017 Elsevier Ltd Biodiversity is affected by
             anthropogenic activities, with a trend of decreasing species
             richness with habitat degradation. Decreasing species
             richness erodes evolutionary history and ecosystem function,
             but taxonomic, phylogenetic and functional diversity can
             have contrasting patterns. It is essential to measure these
             dimensions of biodiversity explicitly and assess how they
             are valued in prioritizing protected areas (PAs) to conserve
             diversity. Madagascar is a biodiversity hotspot, with high
             diversity and endemism coupled with heavy anthropogenic
             pressure. The endemic primates – lemurs – are the most
             endangered mammal taxon. A recent action plan prioritized
             PAs based on lemur species richness, weighted by
             endangerment. This scheme does not capture the evolutionary,
             functional, or biogeographic components of biodiversity, nor
             does it directly assess the level of human threat to those
             PAs. I compiled the largest dataset on lemur community
             composition in 100 PAs, including almost all lemur species
             (98 species). I combined data on lemur occurrence, their
             phylogeny, functional traits, IUCN Red List status, and
             environmental variables including deforestation between the
             years 2000 and 2014. I ranked PAs based on 14 metrics as
             well as the sum of metrics to determine how PA priorities
             compare under different valuation schemes. Based on the sum
             of seven metrics, I identified the top 25 PAs for lemur
             conservation. With these priority rankings, I propose areas
             of high lemur diversity, habitat heterogeneity and
             productivity, and deforestation be the focus of future
             conservation activities to maximize community resilience and
             prevent the erosion of evolutionary diversity and ecosystem
             function.},
   Doi = {10.1016/j.biocon.2016.12.028},
   Key = {fds337586}
}

@article{fds337587,
   Author = {Herrera, JP},
   Title = {Testing the adaptive radiation hypothesis for the lemurs of
             Madagascar.},
   Journal = {Royal Society Open Science},
   Volume = {4},
   Number = {1},
   Pages = {161014},
   Year = {2017},
   Month = {January},
   url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsos.161014},
   Abstract = {Lemurs, the diverse, endemic primates of Madagascar, are
             thought to represent a classic example of adaptive
             radiation. Based on the most complete phylogeny of living
             and extinct lemurs yet assembled, I tested predictions of
             adaptive radiation theory by estimating rates of speciation,
             extinction and adaptive phenotypic evolution. As predicted,
             lemur speciation rate exceeded that of their sister clade by
             nearly twofold, indicating the diversification dynamics of
             lemurs and mainland relatives may have been decoupled. Lemur
             diversification rates did not decline over time, however, as
             predicted by adaptive radiation theory. Optimal body masses
             diverged among dietary and activity pattern niches as
             lineages diversified into unique multidimensional ecospace.
             Based on these results, lemurs only partially fulfil the
             predictions of adaptive radiation theory, with phenotypic
             evolution corresponding to an 'early burst' of adaptive
             differentiation. The results must be interpreted with
             caution, however, because over the long evolutionary history
             of lemurs (approx. 50 million years), the 'early burst'
             signal of adaptive radiation may have been eroded by
             extinction.},
   Doi = {10.1098/rsos.161014},
   Key = {fds337587}
}