This study investigates the fundamental mechanisms underlying cross-species, multi-strain transmission in ecosystems from the opinion of group opinion dynamics. A multilayer interaction framework is proposed, incorporating signed-weighted social network dynamics to quantify group-level opinions and dynamically adjust key epidemiological parameters in real time. The analysis reveals that (1) infection pressure alters group opinion thresholds via cognitive-behavioral feedback, while the emerging collective consensus reciprocally regulates transmission intensity, forming a closed-loop feedback mechanism. (2) The topology of the opinion network governs epidemic phase transitions, inducing a bistable regime characterized by either low-risk (opinion cohesion) or high-risk (opinion polarization) states. By identifying critical nodes within the signed social graph, the study transforms group opinion intensity into dynamic warning thresholds, enabling targeted ecological interventions.
Zhang et al. (2026) studied this question.