ABSTRACT
Abstract. Abundance of Lesser Prairie-Chickens (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) has been declining for several decades, and infectious and noninfectious diseases are becoming increasingly relevant to the conservation of the species. The purpose of this chapter is to summarize what is known regarding the diseases of Lesser Prairie-Chickens and then to explore the relevance of these data for wildlife policy-makers, conservationists, and researchers. A variety of ectoparasites, parasitic helminths, microparasites, and noninfectious diseases have been documented for Lesser Prairie-Chickens, but the population-level influence of only a few of these organisms is adequately understood. Based on available data, studies of related galliform species, and theoretical perspectives, the macroparasites Oxyspirura petrowi and Tetrameres sp., and the microparasites Eimeria spp., Plasmodium pedioecetii, and the infectious bronchitis virus (possibly others) have the potential to regulate populations of Lesser Prairie-Chickens. Several microparasites discussed in this chapter, such as Pasteurella multocida, could cause density-independent disease outbreaks that might extirpate small, isolated populations of Lesser Prairie-Chickens if they were to spillover during an epidemic in other host species. Noninfectious disease resulting from poor insect availability for chicks and collision mortalities
with fence and electrical transmission wires can also have population-level consequences under certain circumstances. Mycotoxins, environmental contaminants, and the influence of female nutritional status on reproductive success could influence population dynamics of Lesser PrairieChickens; research projects on these topics are needed. Infectious and noninfectious diseases are most likely to affect populations of Lesser PrairieChickens as key components of more complex ecological interactions-including dynamics resulting from predicted changes in climate-rather than situations where a specific agent directly results in a marked decline in abundance. Surveys of infectious agents are still needed for poorly studied portions of Lesser Prairie-Chicken range, and there is critical need for research clarifying the effect of specific infectious agents and noninfectious diseases on population dynamics. In the future, conservation efforts would benefit from a better understanding of how anthropogenic habitat changes, infectious agents, noninfectious diseases, predation, and other aspects of the ecosystem interact to influence population dynamics of Lesser Prairie-Chickens.
