Butterflies And Bats Reveal Clues About Spread Of Infectious Disease

The video explores the migration of monarch butterflies and the research of ecologist Sonia Altizer, who studies the impact of migration on the spread of infectious diseases. Monarchs are affected by the OE parasite, which reduces their flight capability. Migration can lower infection rates, as only the strong survive the journey. Human activities disrupt migration, increasing disease risk. Altizer's team also studies rabies in vampire bats in Peru, where livestock introduction has increased bat populations. Altizer collaborates with citizen scientists to understand global pathogen spread.

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