Data from: Seasonal host community dynamics constrain the risk of parasite transmission between migrant and resident species

<p>Seasonal migration shapes the community dynamics that influence pathogen transmission between migrants and resident species. While theoretical and empirical evidence has accumulated, whether migration increases or decreases the risk of cross-species infection remains inconclusive. We studied how the seasonal arrival and departure of a single avian migrant species change the composition of local communities in breeding areas affecting the haemosporidian infection dynamics. The seasonal reordering of resident species abundances induced by migrants, minimizes the opportunities for contact between highly infected hosts and susceptible species, either migrants or residents, thereby limiting the transmission of parasites to occasional spillover events. The occurrence of spillover dynamics during the seasonal sympatry between migrants and residents provides a plausible explanation that reconciles empirical inconsistencies in the intersection of animal migration and infection risk at the host community level. Our findings underscore the critical role played by seasonality in shaping infection dynamics in migratory systems.</p>