Is it best on the nest? Effects of avian life-history on haemosporidian parasitism
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Date
Authors
Ganser, Claudia
Monadjem, Ara
McCleery, Robert A.
Ndlela, Thandeka
Wisely, Samantha M.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Elsevier
Abstract
Infectious diseases vary in prevalence and pathology among host species. Species may differ in prevalence of
infection due to varying exposure and susceptibility to disease agents throughout their lifetime, which may be
attributable to underlying differences in their phenology, physiology and behavior. A recently growing body of
literature has focused on the utility of host life-history traits to provide mechanistic explanations for interspecific
variation in host-parasite associations. In this study, we utilized diverse avian and haemosporidian assemblages
in an African savanna to evaluate the link between haemosporidia prevalence (Plasmodium, Haemoproteus,
Leucocytozoon) and avian life-history traits such as body size, mating system, nest care and nest structure. We
found that variation of haemosporidia prevalence was consistent with life-history traits that pertain to the
reproduction of avian host. Nest care was the single most important predictor of infection status. In birds with
shared and female-only nest care, the expected rates of parasitism were between 8- and 12-fold higher than in
avian brood parasites that provide no nest care. This finding supports the hypothesis that parental care is an
evolutionarily costly life-history trait that increases species’ risk of infection with vector-borne diseases. The
influence of other host traits (nest structure, body size) was less consistent suggesting that differences in the
vectors’ ecology and host-seeking behavior produce variable patterns of parasitism among haemosporidia
genera. Nest structure influenced infection with Haemoproteus and Leucocytozoon only. Leucocytozoon infections
were associated with ground-nesting birds, while Haemoproteus infections were associated with birds that build
open nest structures. Body size was an important predictor of Leucocytozoon infections, particularly large-bodied
birds like guineafowl and doves, which exhibited high prevalences.
Description
Keywords
Avian malaria, Plasmodium, Life-history, Haemosporida, Africa, Nest
Sustainable Development Goals
Citation
Claudia Ganser, Ara Monadjem, Robert A. McCleery, Thandeka Ndlela, Samantha M. Wisely,
Is it best on the nest? Effects of avian life-history on haemosporidian parasitism,
International Journal for Parasitology: Parasites and Wildlife,
Volume 13,
2020,
Pages 62-71,
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijppaw.2020.07.014.