Emerging infectious disease and the challenges of social distancing in human and non-human animals.
Proc Biol Sci
; 287(1932): 20201039, 2020 08 12.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-711781
ABSTRACT
The 'social distancing' that occurred in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in humans provides a powerful illustration of the intimate relationship between infectious disease and social behaviour in animals. Indeed, directly transmitted pathogens have long been considered a major cost of group living in humans and other social animals, as well as a driver of the evolution of group size and social behaviour. As the risk and frequency of emerging infectious diseases rise, the ability of social taxa to respond appropriately to changing infectious disease pressures could mean the difference between persistence and extinction. Here, we examine changes in the social behaviour of humans and wildlife in response to infectious diseases and compare these responses to theoretical expectations. We consider constraints on altering social behaviour in the face of emerging diseases, including the lack of behavioural plasticity, environmental limitations and conflicting pressures from the many benefits of group living. We also explore the ways that social animals can minimize the costs of disease-induced changes to sociality and the unique advantages that humans may have in maintaining the benefits of sociality despite social distancing.
Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Social Behavior
/
Social Isolation
/
Communicable Diseases, Emerging
Type of study:
Prognostic study
/
Qualitative research
Limits:
Animals
/
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Proc Biol Sci
Journal subject:
Biology
Year:
2020
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Rspb.2020.1039
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