Transformational principles for NEON sampling of mammalian parasites and pathogens: a response to Springer et al. (2016)

Authors: COOK, J - University Of New Mexico; GREIMAN, STEPHEN - University Of New Mexico; AGOSTA, SALVATORE - Virginia Commonwealth University; ANDERSON, ROBERT - City University Of New York; ARBOGAST, BRIAN - University Of North Carolina-Wilmington; BAKER, ROBERT - Texas Tech University; BOEGER, WALTER - Universidade Federal Do Parana; BRADLEY, ROBERT - Texas Tech University; DEMBOSKI, JOHN - Denver Museum Of Nature And Science; DOBSON, ANDREW - Princeton University; DUNNUM, JONATHAN - University Of New Mexico; ECKERLIN, RALPH - Northern Virginia Community College; ESSELSTYN, JACOB - Louisiana State University; GALBREATH, KURT - Northern Michigan University; HAWDON, JOHN - George Washington University; HOESKTRA, HOPI - Harvard University; KUTZ, SUSAN - University Of Calgary; LIGHT, JESSICA - Texas A&M University; OLSON, LINK - University Of Alaska; PATTERSON, BRUCE - Field Museum Natural History; PATTON, JAMES - University Of California; PHILIPS, ANNA - Smithsonian Institute; RICKART, ERIC - University Of Utah; ROGERS, DUKE - Brigham Young University; SIDDALL, MARK - American Museum Of Natural History; TKACH, VASYL - University Of North Dakota; Hoberg, Eric

Submitted to: Bioscience
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/20/2016
Publication Date: 9/20/2016
Citation: Cook, J.A., Greiman, S., Agosta, S., Anderson, R.P., Arbogast, B.S., Baker, R.J., Boeger, W., Bradley, R.D., Demboski, J.R., Dobson, A.P., Dunnum, J.L., Eckerlin, R.P., Esselstyn, J., Galbreath, K., Hawdon, J., Hoesktra, H., Kutz, S., Light, J., Olson, L., Patterson, B.D., Patton, J.L., Philips, A.J., Rickart, E., Rogers, D.S., Siddall, M., Tkach, V., Hoberg, E.P. 2016. Transformational principles for NEON sampling of mammalian parasites and pathogens: a response to Springer et al. (2016). Bioscience. 54:787-799.

Interpretive Summary: The National Environmental Observatory Network (NEON) has recently released a series of protocols presented with apparently broad community support for studies of small mammals and parasites. Sampling designs were outlined outlined, collectively aimed at understanding how changing environmental conditions will impact mammals and associated parasites. Although the argument for the study of parasites was clear, the proposed protocols are too limited to advance understanding of ecological (much less evolutionary) responses to species invasions, changes in climate and land use over time. We offer a critique and an expanded vision for NEON's mammal-parasite protocols beyond select tick-, mosquito-, and rodent-borne pathogens. We encourage expanded sampling of (1) the entire parasite assemblage (including helminths and viruses) and (2) the host assemblage, along with (3) a two-pronged sampling design based on both rigorous sample archival and 'mark-release' approaches. Reflecting on the long and highly productive history of specimen-based research, we have encouraged NEON to take a more holistic, synergistic, and sample-intensive approach as a basis for long-term environmental observatories. Investment in NEON comes at a time when discoveries in ecology have exploded based on informatic and molecular tools that harness links among data types (e.g., geospatial, anatomical, genomic, traits, biotic interactions, and physiological). Tackling exceedingly complex environmental questions calls for holistic approaches based on reproducibility and object-based linkages. Importantly, simple modifications would require minimal changes and costs to the expensive mark-release NEON protocols proposed and result in a much more productive and effective platform.

Technical Abstract: The National Environmental Observatory Network (NEON) has recently released a series of protocols presented with apparently broad community support for studies of small mammals and parasites. Sampling designs were outlined outlined, collectively aimed at understanding how changing environmental conditions will impact mammals and associated parasites. Although the argument for the study of parasites was clear, the proposed protocols are too limited to advance understanding of ecological (much less evolutionary) responses to species invasions, changes in climate and land use over time. We offer a critique and an expanded vision for NEON's mammal-parasite protocols beyond select tick-, mosquito-, and rodent-borne pathogens. We encourage expanded sampling of (1) the entire parasite assemblage (including helminths and viruses) and (2) the host assemblage, along with (3) a two-pronged sampling design based on both rigorous sample archival and 'mark-release' approaches. Reflecting on the long and highly productive history of specimen-based research, we have encouraged NEON to take a more holistic, synergistic, and sample-intensive approach as a basis for long-term environmental observatories. Investment in NEON comes at a time when discoveries in ecology have exploded based on informatic and molecular tools that harness links among data types (e.g., geospatial, anatomical, genomic, traits, biotic interactions, and physiological). Tackling exceedingly complex environmental questions calls for holistic approaches based on reproducibility and object-based linkages. Importantly, simple modifications would require minimal changes and costs to the expensive mark-release NEON protocols proposed and result in a much more productive and effective platform.