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Variable effects of the Hen Flea Ceratophyllus gallinae on the breeding success of the Great Tit Parus major in relation to weather conditions
Author(s) -
Dufva R.,
Allander K.
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
ibis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.933
H-Index - 80
eISSN - 1474-919X
pISSN - 0019-1019
DOI - 10.1111/j.1474-919x.1996.tb08835.x
Subject(s) - passerine , biology , parus , flea , zoology , reproductive success , ecology , feather , population , demography , sociology
We investigated the effect of an ectoparasite, the Hen Flea Ceratophyllus gallinae (Siphonaptera), on the reproductive success of the Great Tit Parus major , a hole‐nesting passerine bird. Parasite levels of cleaned nesting boxes were experimentally manipulated during the egg‐laying period of the birds either by spraying nests with pyrethrin or by introducing c. 100 adult fleas, while other nests were left as controls. Only in 2 out of 5 years did hen fleas significantly affect reproductive success. Nestlings from parasitized nests showed reduced body‐mass, tarsus‐length and condition, whereas wing‐length did not differ between nestlings reared with or without fleas. The impact of the fleas on the growth performance of host nestlings was more noticeable in years with lower temperatures and higher precipitation.