Higher temperature extremes exacerbate negative disease effects in a social mammal

One important but understudied way in which climate change may impact the fitness of individuals and populations is by altering the prevalence of infectious disease outbreaks. This is especially true in social species where endemic diseases are widespread. Here we use 22 years of demographic data from wild meerkats (Suricata suricatta) in the Kalahari, where temperatures have risen steadily, to project group persistence under interactions between weather extremes and fatal tuberculosis outbreaks caused by infection with Mycobacterium suricattae. We show that higher temperature extremes increase the risk of outbreaks within groups by increasing physiological stress as well as the dispersal of males, which are important carriers of tuberculosis. Explicitly accounting for negative effects of tuberculosis outbreaks on survival and reproduction in groups more than doubles group extinction risk in 12 years under projected temperature increases. Synergistic climate-disease effects on demographic rates may therefore rapidly intensify climate-change impacts in natural populations. Using 22 years of demographic data from wild meekats in the Kalahari, the authors project group persistence in the context of weather extremes and outbreaks of end-stage tuberculosis. They find that synergistic climate-disease effects on key demographic rates may exacerbate future disease impacts.

Automated summary

This study uses 22 years of demographic data from wild meerkats to show that higher temperature extremes increase the risk of tuberculosis outbreaks within groups. This is due to increased physiological stress and the dispersal of males, which are important carriers of the disease. Accounting for the negative effects of tuberculosis outbreaks on survival and reproduction more than doubles the risk of group extinction under projected temperature increases. These findings highlight the rapid intensification of climate change impacts on natural populations through synergistic effects with infectious diseases.