Effects of the introduced ectoparasite Philornis downsi on haemoglobin level and nestling survival in Darwin's Small Ground Finch (Geospiza fuliginosa)
(2006) In Austral Ecology 31(1). p.88-94- Abstract
- The physiological impacts and fitness costs of parasitism by an introduced ectoparasitic fly, Philornis downsi (Muscidae), were studied in nestlings of Darwin's Small Ground Finch, Geospiza fuliginosa (Geospizinae), on the Galápagos Archipelago. Whole blood haemoglobin (Hb) concentration was used to measure host response to ectoparasitism due to its high repeatability and validity, as well as for its key role in aerobic activities that affect fitness, such as flight capacity and nestling begging intensity. Increased numbers of ectoparasitic larvae of P. downsi were strongly correlated with lower Hb levels in nestlings in the absence of blood parasites. Furthermore, immature red blood cell counts were negatively correlated with Hb level and... (More)
- The physiological impacts and fitness costs of parasitism by an introduced ectoparasitic fly, Philornis downsi (Muscidae), were studied in nestlings of Darwin's Small Ground Finch, Geospiza fuliginosa (Geospizinae), on the Galápagos Archipelago. Whole blood haemoglobin (Hb) concentration was used to measure host response to ectoparasitism due to its high repeatability and validity, as well as for its key role in aerobic activities that affect fitness, such as flight capacity and nestling begging intensity. Increased numbers of ectoparasitic larvae of P. downsi were strongly correlated with lower Hb levels in nestlings in the absence of blood parasites. Furthermore, immature red blood cell counts were negatively correlated with Hb level and positively correlated with P. downsi intensity. Nestlings with high levels of parasitism suffered higher mortality, which varied with clutch size. Our results provide evidence that endemic Galápagos bird populations are physiologically compromised by P. downsi and experience substantial fitness costs due to ectoparasitism. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
https://lup.lub.lu.se/record/3738437
- author
- Dudaniec, Rachael LU ; Kleindorfer, Sonia and Fessl, Birgit
- publishing date
- 2006
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Darwin's finches, ectoparasitism, haemoglobin, nestling survival, Philornis downsi
- in
- Austral Ecology
- volume
- 31
- issue
- 1
- pages
- 88 - 94
- publisher
- Wiley-Blackwell
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:33644828973
- ISSN
- 1442-9985
- DOI
- 10.1111/j.1442-9993.2006.01553.x
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- no
- additional info
- 1
- id
- f237af00-5c31-4432-a06b-1f5f6c294bb1 (old id 3738437)
- alternative location
- http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1442-9993.2006.01553.x
- date added to LUP
- 2016-04-01 12:14:41
- date last changed
- 2022-02-11 03:59:28
@article{f237af00-5c31-4432-a06b-1f5f6c294bb1,
abstract = {{The physiological impacts and fitness costs of parasitism by an introduced ectoparasitic fly, Philornis downsi (Muscidae), were studied in nestlings of Darwin's Small Ground Finch, Geospiza fuliginosa (Geospizinae), on the Galápagos Archipelago. Whole blood haemoglobin (Hb) concentration was used to measure host response to ectoparasitism due to its high repeatability and validity, as well as for its key role in aerobic activities that affect fitness, such as flight capacity and nestling begging intensity. Increased numbers of ectoparasitic larvae of P. downsi were strongly correlated with lower Hb levels in nestlings in the absence of blood parasites. Furthermore, immature red blood cell counts were negatively correlated with Hb level and positively correlated with P. downsi intensity. Nestlings with high levels of parasitism suffered higher mortality, which varied with clutch size. Our results provide evidence that endemic Galápagos bird populations are physiologically compromised by P. downsi and experience substantial fitness costs due to ectoparasitism.}},
author = {{Dudaniec, Rachael and Kleindorfer, Sonia and Fessl, Birgit}},
issn = {{1442-9985}},
keywords = {{Darwin's finches; ectoparasitism; haemoglobin; nestling survival; Philornis downsi}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{1}},
pages = {{88--94}},
publisher = {{Wiley-Blackwell}},
series = {{Austral Ecology}},
title = {{Effects of the introduced ectoparasite Philornis downsi on haemoglobin level and nestling survival in Darwin's Small Ground Finch (Geospiza fuliginosa)}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1442-9993.2006.01553.x}},
doi = {{10.1111/j.1442-9993.2006.01553.x}},
volume = {{31}},
year = {{2006}},
}