| Publication Type: | Journal Article |
| Year of Publication: | 2007 |
| Authors: | Topp, SM, Ogden, LJEvans, Martin, K |
| Journal: | Journal of Field Ornithology |
| Volume: | 78 |
| Issue: | 3 |
| Date Published: | 2007 |
| ISBN Number: | 1557-9263 |
| Keywords: | birds, blood parasite, British Columbia, Canada, Catharus, Catharus guttatus, Catharus ustulatus, Emberizidae, Erithacus, Erithacus rubecula, Haemoproteus, Hylocichla, Hylocichla guttata, Hylocichla ustulata, Ixoreus, Ixoreus naevia, Ixoreus naevius, Junco, Junco hyemalis, Nannus, Nannus hiemalis, Nannus troglodytes, passerine, prevalence, Troglodytes, Troglodytes hiemalis, Troglodytes troglodytes, Troglodytidae, Turdidae, Turdus, Turdus migratorius, Zoothera, Zoothera naevia |
| Abstract: | ABSTRACT To investigate the possible effect of elevation on the prevalence of hematozoa infection, we collected blood smears from a population of Winter Wrens (Troglogytes troglodytes) in the Coast Mountains of southwestern British Columbia, Canada. We sampled 119 Winter Wrens, including 88 at low elevation (0–500 m) and 31 at high elevation (900–1100 m) sites. In addition, five other species, including Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus; N= 12), Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis; N= 11), Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus; N= 8), Varied Thrush (Ixoreus naevius; N= 4), and American Robin (Turdus migratorius; N= 4), were sampled. No Winter Wrens were infected by blood parasites. Among the other species, Haemoproteus infection was detected in one Varied Thrush (25%) and five Swainson's Thrushes (42%). Thus, despite the occurrence of infection in sympatrically breeding species, blood parasites are apparently absent or occur at extremely low prevalence in Winter Wrens in our study area. The presence of hematozoa in European populations of Winter Wrens, combined with an abundance of vector species in our study area, suggest population-level resistance to infection. Further study is needed to determine the specific mechanisms involved in the apparent lack of infection in our study population.SINOPSIS Para investigar el posible efecto de incremento en la prevalencia de infecciones de hematozoos, tomamos muestras de sangre de una población de reyezuelos (Troglodytes troglodytes) en Columbia Británica, Canada. Muestreamos 119 individuos invernales de reyezuelos, incluyendo 88 a baja elevación (0–500) y 31 a alta elevación (900–1100 m). Además, examinamos individuos de otras especies tales como Catharus ustulatus; N= 12), Junco hyemalis; N= 11), Catharus guttatus; N= 8), Ixoreus naevius; N= 4) y Turdus migratorius; N= 4). No se encontraron reyezuelos con parásitos en su sangre. Se encontraron infecciones de Haemproteus en un individuo (25%) de I. naevius y cinco individuos (42%) de C. ustulatus. Aunque se encontraron especies simpátricas con parásitos sanguíneos, estos están ausentes, o presentes en números extremadamente bajos, en la población de reyezuelos estudiada. La presencia de hematozoos en poblaciones europeas de reyezuelos, combinado con la abundancia de especies vectores en el área de estudio, sugiere que hay un alto grado de resitencia en la población estudiada. Se necesitan otros estudios para determinar el mecanismo envuelto en la aparence resitencia al parasitismo, en la población estudiada. |
| URL: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1557-9263.2007.00120.x |
| Short Title: | Journal of Field Ornithology |