A global dataset of spatiotemporal co-occurrence patterns of avian influenza virus-associated migratory birds

TL;DR

This paper creates a dataset tracking when and where migratory birds overlap, helping identify areas where bird-borne diseases like avian influenza might spread.

Contribution

The novel contribution is a global dataset of spatiotemporal co-occurrence patterns among 50 migratory bird species linked to avian influenza virus.

Findings

A dataset was built using tracking data from 62 migratory bird species with 3,944 individual records.

The dataset identifies spatial and temporal overlaps at shared locations with daily and administrative resolution.

It can help identify hotspots for pathogen evolution and support disease prevention strategies.

Abstract

Migratory birds facilitate the cross-regional spread of pathogens such as avian influenza virus (AIV). Interspecies interactions among multiple migratory bird species within shared spatiotemporal habitats can substantially enhance pathogen transmission and evolution, thereby posing potential risks to public health and livestock safety. Recent advances in tracking technologies, such as GPS, combined with publicly accessible databases like Movebank, have enabled the reconstruction of avian migratory pathways. However, existing tracking data are largely collected from individual species, remain species-specific and are insufficient for characterizing interspecies contact during migration. By integrating available tracking data from 62 migratory bird species (comprising 3,944 individual records), this study constructed a co-occurrence dataset comprising 50 migratory bird species that exhibited spatial and temporal overlap at shared locations, with a daily temporal resolution and spatial resolution aligned with first-level administrative divisions. This dataset can facilitate the identification of potential hotspots for migratory bird-associated pathogen evolution, thereby providing data-driven support for the prevention and control of emerging infectious diseases.

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