YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK – Yellowstone wolves infected with a parasite are 46x more likely to become a pack leader, according to groundbreaking new research.
The parasite, Toxoplasma gondii, appears to make wolves bolder and braver. The parasite can only reproduce in cats but it infects other mammals worldwide and can influence their actions.
Wolves in Yellowstone share a lot of territory with cougars. The wolves probably get infected by eating the big cats’ feces, eating dead cougars, or through other encounters. Infected wolves tend to be more aggressive and dominant, which explains why they become leaders. They also take more risk.
Humans can also be infected with T. gondii, and the parasite can be associated with risk-taking in business and even in road rage. This fascinating research is providing new insight into how a microscopic organism can influence decision making and impact an entire ecosystem.
The study was published in “Communications Biology” by lead authors Kira Cassidy and Connor Meyer.
NATIONAL PARK NEWS
