Abstract
Shared pathogens can alter the interaction between native and alien
species resulting in disease-mediated invasions (DMIs). Invasive species
often harbour low-virulence macroparasites, but empirical evidence for
macroparasite-driven DMIs is still limited due to their sublethal
impacts and scarce prominence. Here we modelled the dynamics of native
red squirrels, invasive grey squirrels and their shared nematode
Strongyloides robustus to assess whether macroparasites can drive DMIs
and lead to native species extinction. Our simulations showed that
spillover of the alien parasite can lead to red squirrel extinction,
that grey squirrels amplify the infection in the native host and that
the infection accelerates the replacement of red squirrels compared to
direct competition alone, ultimately facilitating invasion by grey
squirrels. These results demonstrate that sublethal macroparasites can
mediate invasions, suggesting that we are overlooking key drivers of
native species decline.