AVIS-IBIS

Birds of Indian Subcontinent

The preening activity of swallows, Hirundo rustica, in relation to experimentally manipulated loads of haematophagous mites

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:1991
Authors:M
Journal:Animal Behaviour
Volume:42
Issue:2
Date Published:1991
ISBN Number:0003-3472
Keywords:Hirundinidae, Hirundo, Hirundo rustica
Abstract:Whether differences in preening activity among breeding swallows might be a reliable predictor of infection rates by the haematophagous mite Ornithonyssus bursa was tested by recording preening during an experimental manipulation of mite population density. Mite populations of newly built nests were either decreased by spraying with a pesticide, or increased by inoculation with ca 50 mites, while other nests were kept as controls. Adult swallows did not alter their preening rates in relation to experimental treatment despite the fact that the experimental treatments strongly affected mite densities. Nestlings raised in nests inoculated with mites preened much more than did control nestlings, which preened more than did nestlings from sprayed nests. Individual swallows had consistent preening rates throughout the breeding season. Male swallows preened more than females, and male preening activity was strongly positively correlated with that of their mates. Swallows preening much during their first clutches maintained a high preening frequency during their second clutch, although there was a general seasonal decrease in preening rates. Swallows rearing two broods preened more than did pairs rearing only a single brood.
URL:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0003347205805561
Short Title:Animal Behaviour
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith