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Increasing prevalence of avian poxvirus in Darwin's finches and its effect on male pairing success

Kleindorfer, Sonia and Dudaniec, Rachael LU (2006) In Journal of Avian Biology 37(1). p.69-76
Abstract
Island populations harbour a comparatively species-poor pathogen community, often resulting in naïve host species that experience compromised immunity when faced with novel diseases. Over 95% of the Galápagos avifauna have survived 400 years of human settlement, yet currently face threats due to introduced diseases such as avian poxvirus. On Hawaii, declining populations of birds and even some extinctions have been attributed to avian poxvirus, and hence, identifying the prevalence and fitness costs of avian poxvirus on the Galápagos is a conservation priority. Surveys of avian poxvirus in Darwin's finches on Santa Cruz Island between 2000 and 2004 found a 33% annual increase in the prevalence of pox lesions in ground finches. Comparisons... (More)
Island populations harbour a comparatively species-poor pathogen community, often resulting in naïve host species that experience compromised immunity when faced with novel diseases. Over 95% of the Galápagos avifauna have survived 400 years of human settlement, yet currently face threats due to introduced diseases such as avian poxvirus. On Hawaii, declining populations of birds and even some extinctions have been attributed to avian poxvirus, and hence, identifying the prevalence and fitness costs of avian poxvirus on the Galápagos is a conservation priority. Surveys of avian poxvirus in Darwin's finches on Santa Cruz Island between 2000 and 2004 found a 33% annual increase in the prevalence of pox lesions in ground finches. Comparisons of pox prevalence on three islands (Santa Cruz, Floreana, and Isabela) were made in 2004, which indicated significant variation in pox prevalence across islands (Isabela>Santa Cruz>Floreana). Darwin's finch species were found to be differentially affected by poxvirus, with a higher prevalence in ground finches than in tree finches. There was a significant effect of habitat, even within species, with higher prevalence in the lowlands than highlands. Pox prevalence was not correlated with sex or body condition. However, male small ground finches Geospiza fuliginosa with evidence of pox were less likely to have a mate (16.6% paired) compared with males without pox (77% paired), indicating fitness costs associated with poxvirus infection. (Less)
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author
and
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Journal of Avian Biology
volume
37
issue
1
pages
69 - 76
publisher
Wiley-Blackwell
external identifiers
  • scopus:33645147893
ISSN
0908-8857
DOI
10.1111/j.0908-8857.2006.03503.x
language
English
LU publication?
no
additional info
1
id
11be0977-7f57-40a1-8d1c-cd62492e087b (old id 3738490)
alternative location
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.0908-8857.2006.03503.x
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 11:58:41
date last changed
2022-07-15 03:36:33
@article{11be0977-7f57-40a1-8d1c-cd62492e087b,
  abstract     = {{Island populations harbour a comparatively species-poor pathogen community, often resulting in naïve host species that experience compromised immunity when faced with novel diseases. Over 95% of the Galápagos avifauna have survived 400 years of human settlement, yet currently face threats due to introduced diseases such as avian poxvirus. On Hawaii, declining populations of birds and even some extinctions have been attributed to avian poxvirus, and hence, identifying the prevalence and fitness costs of avian poxvirus on the Galápagos is a conservation priority. Surveys of avian poxvirus in Darwin's finches on Santa Cruz Island between 2000 and 2004 found a 33% annual increase in the prevalence of pox lesions in ground finches. Comparisons of pox prevalence on three islands (Santa Cruz, Floreana, and Isabela) were made in 2004, which indicated significant variation in pox prevalence across islands (Isabela>Santa Cruz>Floreana). Darwin's finch species were found to be differentially affected by poxvirus, with a higher prevalence in ground finches than in tree finches. There was a significant effect of habitat, even within species, with higher prevalence in the lowlands than highlands. Pox prevalence was not correlated with sex or body condition. However, male small ground finches Geospiza fuliginosa with evidence of pox were less likely to have a mate (16.6% paired) compared with males without pox (77% paired), indicating fitness costs associated with poxvirus infection.}},
  author       = {{Kleindorfer, Sonia and Dudaniec, Rachael}},
  issn         = {{0908-8857}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{69--76}},
  publisher    = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
  series       = {{Journal of Avian Biology}},
  title        = {{Increasing prevalence of avian poxvirus in Darwin's finches and its effect on male pairing success}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.0908-8857.2006.03503.x}},
  doi          = {{10.1111/j.0908-8857.2006.03503.x}},
  volume       = {{37}},
  year         = {{2006}},
}