Parasite infestation and predation in Darwin's small ground finch: contrasting two elevational habitats between islands
(2010) In Journal of Tropical Ecology 26(3). p.285-292- Abstract
- Contrasting ecological conditions may affect the distribution, abundance and impact of parasites and predators throughout the ranges of hosts and prey. Such patterns are evident on the archipelagos of Hawaii and the Galapagos, which vary in their distribution and abundance of avian parasites within and across islands. Previous research has documented higher intensity of parasitic fly larvae (Philornis downsi) in nests of Darwin's finches on elevated islands of the Galapagos. Here we examine P. downsi intensity and predation in 71 nests of Darwin's small ground finch (Geospiza fuliginosa) on Floreana Island. We found significant differences in parasite intensity, nest predation and clutch size between the lowland (0–100 m) and highland... (More)
- Contrasting ecological conditions may affect the distribution, abundance and impact of parasites and predators throughout the ranges of hosts and prey. Such patterns are evident on the archipelagos of Hawaii and the Galapagos, which vary in their distribution and abundance of avian parasites within and across islands. Previous research has documented higher intensity of parasitic fly larvae (Philornis downsi) in nests of Darwin's finches on elevated islands of the Galapagos. Here we examine P. downsi intensity and predation in 71 nests of Darwin's small ground finch (Geospiza fuliginosa) on Floreana Island. We found significant differences in parasite intensity, nest predation and clutch size between the lowland (0–100 m) and highland (300–400 m) habitats. Lowland finch nests had few P. downsi parasites (mean of 8 per nest), high nest predation (44% of nests) and large clutch size (3.4). Highland finch nests showed the opposite pattern, with many P. downsi parasites (40 per nest), low nest predation (17%) and small clutch size (2.5). This study suggests that the impacts of an introduced parasite are limited by its niche requirements and resource availability within and across islands. Our findings also imply that the vulnerability of bird populations to introduced parasites and predators is linked with variation in life history strategies across habitats. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/3738495
- author
- O'Connor, Jody A. ; Dudaniec, Rachael LU and Kleindorfer, Sonia
- publishing date
- 2010
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- clutch size, Darwin's finches, elevation, Galapagos Islands, Geospiza fuliginosa, Muscidae, parasitism, Philornis downsi, predation
- in
- Journal of Tropical Ecology
- volume
- 26
- issue
- 3
- pages
- 285 - 292
- publisher
- Cambridge University Press
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:77952498342
- ISSN
- 0266-4674
- DOI
- 10.1017/S0266467409990678
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- no
- additional info
- 3
- id
- f7b1da7f-b247-4010-a145-23904f4e6cee (old id 3738495)
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-01 10:53:00
- date last changed
- 2022-02-17 22:13:02
@article{f7b1da7f-b247-4010-a145-23904f4e6cee,
abstract = {{Contrasting ecological conditions may affect the distribution, abundance and impact of parasites and predators throughout the ranges of hosts and prey. Such patterns are evident on the archipelagos of Hawaii and the Galapagos, which vary in their distribution and abundance of avian parasites within and across islands. Previous research has documented higher intensity of parasitic fly larvae (Philornis downsi) in nests of Darwin's finches on elevated islands of the Galapagos. Here we examine P. downsi intensity and predation in 71 nests of Darwin's small ground finch (Geospiza fuliginosa) on Floreana Island. We found significant differences in parasite intensity, nest predation and clutch size between the lowland (0–100 m) and highland (300–400 m) habitats. Lowland finch nests had few P. downsi parasites (mean of 8 per nest), high nest predation (44% of nests) and large clutch size (3.4). Highland finch nests showed the opposite pattern, with many P. downsi parasites (40 per nest), low nest predation (17%) and small clutch size (2.5). This study suggests that the impacts of an introduced parasite are limited by its niche requirements and resource availability within and across islands. Our findings also imply that the vulnerability of bird populations to introduced parasites and predators is linked with variation in life history strategies across habitats.}},
author = {{O'Connor, Jody A. and Dudaniec, Rachael and Kleindorfer, Sonia}},
issn = {{0266-4674}},
keywords = {{clutch size; Darwin's finches; elevation; Galapagos Islands; Geospiza fuliginosa; Muscidae; parasitism; Philornis downsi; predation}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{3}},
pages = {{285--292}},
publisher = {{Cambridge University Press}},
series = {{Journal of Tropical Ecology}},
title = {{Parasite infestation and predation in Darwin's small ground finch: contrasting two elevational habitats between islands}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0266467409990678}},
doi = {{10.1017/S0266467409990678}},
volume = {{26}},
year = {{2010}},
}