Question

In terms of community ecology, why are pathogens often more virulent now than before? In terms of community ecology, why are pathogens often more virulent now than before? Human activities are transporting pathogens into new habitats (or communities) at an unprecedented rate. Host organisms have become more susceptible because of weakened immune systems. Medicines for treating pathogenic disease are in short supply. More new pathogens have recently evolved. Sequencing of genes in pathogenic organisms is particularly difficult.

Answer 1

The correct answer based on community ecology of the reason why pathogens are becoming more virulent is that Human activities are transporting pathogens at an unprecedented rate

Step-by-step explanation:

The field of community ecology want to explain the reasons for changes in each member of the ecosystem using the or drawing conclusion from the relationship that exists between the different species in the ecosystem.

Human harbour pathogens either as asymptomatic carrier or infected with outright signs and symptoms. There is therefore a communal relationship between human and his pathogens which is maintained. If this equilibrium situation is maintained without the exposure of the pathogens to other community, the pathogens will remain susceptibility to chemotherapy and their virulence factors will be predictable. The transfer of these pathogens to other mutation induced community however will subject the pathogens to want to adapt to their new community, thereby creating adaptive mechanisms in form of virulent factors that are strange to our former treatment. The virulence enhancement at this point is majorly due to either adaptation to their new environment or exposure to mutation induction compounds.

Answer 2

Answer: Human activities are transporting pathogens into new habitats (or communities) at an unprecedented rate.

Step-by-step explanation:

When pathogens are introduced into a new population in a community, most individuals have not develop resistance to that pathogen thus it will be more virulent.