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ISLAND AND TAXON EFFECTS IN PARASITISM AND RESISTANCE OF LESSER ANTILLEAN BIRDS
Author(s) -
Apanius Victor,
Yorinks Nancy,
Bermingham Eldredge,
Ricklefs Robert E.
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.144
H-Index - 294
eISSN - 1939-9170
pISSN - 0012-9658
DOI - 10.1890/0012-9658(2000)081[1959:iateip]2.0.co;2
Subject(s) - biology , haemoproteus , host (biology) , parasitism , ecology , martinique , zoology , avian malaria , genetic divergence , population , genetic diversity , malaria , west indies , ethnology , immunology , history , gametocyte , plasmodium falciparum , demography , sociology
Patterns of parasitism in insular avian communities can provide insight into processes that maintain host–parasite associations. On one hand, replicable relationships within evolutionarily independent communities of the same host and parasite taxa would indicate that these interactions are stable over time. On the other hand, unique ecological conditions on each island, sporadic colonizations and extinctions, plus new genetic variation would lead to island‐specific host–parasite relationships. We examined the distribution of three parasitic taxa among avian host species on three islands in the Lesser Antilles: St. Lucia, Martinique, and Dominica. Blood protozoa of the genus Haemoproteus were found in 34% of host individuals examined. A significant species effect, but no significant island effect, was observed, suggesting an ecologically stable and replicable host–parasite association. Cysts of the tissue‐dwelling protozoan genus Sarcocystis were observed in 4% (9% on Dominica) of host individuals and were significantly associated with ground foraging. Epithelial lesions characteristic of avian papilloma virus were recorded in 4% of host individuals on Martinique only. The pattern of infection with papilloma virus or Sarcocystis (significant island effect) indicated that host species on a particular island are linked in transmission webs of these parasites. Such island‐specific associations suggest a role for either history or unique local ecology in host–parasite associations. There was a statistically significant interaction between island and species effects in the prevalence of Haemoproteus . This may stem from the independent evolution of host–parasite interactions in the different island populations. We were able to assess the extent of genetic divergence of the host species by analysis of mitochondrial ATPase 6,8 sequences. There was little genetic divergence between island populations of the host species. Therefore, the variation in Haemoproteus prevalence is not likely to be related to genetic differentiation of the host populations. Birds infected with Haemoproteus exhibited elevated leukocyte levels indicative of immunological control of the parasite. After statistically controlling for the intensity of Haemoproteus infection and host species, leukocyte levels varied significantly among islands on which the host resided. This is consistent with the idea that insular avian communities are linked by transmission webs of parasites having broad host specificity.