A Survey of Bacterial Respiratory Pathogens in Native and Introduced Mountain Goats (Oreamnos americanus)

Abstract

In contrast to broad range expansion through translocations, many mountain goat ( Oreamnos americanus) populations have shown signs of decline. Recent documentation of pneumonia in mountain goats highlights their susceptibility to bacterial pathogens typically associated with bighorn sheep ( Ovis canadensis) epizootics. Respiratory pathogen communities of mountain goats are poorly characterized yet have important implications for management and conservation of both species. We characterized resident pathogen communities across a range of mountain goat populations as an initial step to inform management efforts. Between 2010 and 2017, we sampled 98 individuals within three regions of the Greater Yellowstone Area (GYA), with a smaller sampling effort in southeast Alaska, US. Within the GYA, we detected Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae in two regions and we found at least two Pasteurellaceae species in animals from all regions. Mannheimia haemolytica was the only pathogen that we detected in southeast Alaska. Given the difficult sampling conditions, limited sample size, and imperfect detection, our failure to detect specific pathogens should be interpreted with caution. Nonetheless, respiratory pathogens within the GYA may be an important, yet underappreciated, cause of mountain goat mortality. Moreover, because of the strong niche overlap of bighorn sheep and mountain goats, interspecific transmission is an important concern for managers restoring or introducing mountain ungulates within sympatric ranges.

Characterizing population and individual migration patterns among native and restored bighorn sheep (Ovis canadensis)

“…Nonetheless, although the population‐specific mechanisms driving individual variation in migratory behavior are not well understood, increasing migratory diversity may serve as an important objective for ungulate management. Akin to the benefits observed in other taxa, increasing migratory diversity in ungulates may minimize the effects of disease through reducing transmission rates and densities on any single seasonal range (Lowrey et al, ; Maichak et al, ; Singer, Zeigenfuss, & Spicer, ). Moreover, a diffuse distribution also can buffer individuals from other density mediated limits to growth such as interspecific competition and predation (Leech, Jelinski, DeGroot, & Kuzyk, ; Lowrey et al, ; Singer et al, ) as well as stochastic threats such as avalanches (Courtemanch et al, ).…”

“…Akin to the benefits observed in other taxa, increasing migratory diversity in ungulates may minimize the effects of disease through reducing transmission rates and densities on any single seasonal range (Lowrey et al, ; Maichak et al, ; Singer, Zeigenfuss, & Spicer, ). Moreover, a diffuse distribution also can buffer individuals from other density mediated limits to growth such as interspecific competition and predation (Leech, Jelinski, DeGroot, & Kuzyk, ; Lowrey et al, ; Singer et al, ) as well as stochastic threats such as avalanches (Courtemanch et al, ). Maintaining or promoting migratory diversity can also preserve a network of seasonal ranges making populations less reliant on the environmental conditions on any single range (Morrison et al, ).…”

Staying close to home: Ecological constraints on space use and range fidelity in a mountain ungulate

“…The species exhibits a strong affinity for steep, broken terrain and cliffs in order to mitigate the risk of predation by large carnivores such as wolves, mountain lions, and bears (Cote et al., 1997 ; Festa‐Bianchet & Côté, 2008 ; Fox & Streveler, 1986 ; Smith, 1983 ). Such features are often limited in distribution and result in concentrated use of specific areas in mountain landscapes (Lowrey et al., 2018 ; Wells et al., 2014 ; White & Gregovich, 2018 ). Within this context, seasonal variability in food resource availability and energetic constraints imposes restrictions on how mountain goats use their environment.…”

Demographic uncertainty and disease risk influence climate‐informed management of an alpine species

“…Beyond the potential for resource competition, sympatry with bighorn sheep may also induce spillover of respiratory pathogens (Kamath et al 2019). Mountain goats and bighorn sheep harbor respiratory pathogen MOUNTAIN GOAT DECISION ANALYSIS | 3 of 25 communities associated with widespread, epidemic die-off events in bighorn sheep (Cassirer et al 2018, Lowrey et al 2018a, Kamath et al 2019). These respiratory pathogens may also cause epidemics in mountain goats (Blanchong et al 2018, Wolff et al 2019.…”