High blowfly parasitic loads affect breeding success in a Mediterranean population of blue tits |
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Authors: | Sylvie Hurtrez-Boussès Philippe Perret François Renaud Jacques Blondel |
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Institution: | (1) CNRS-CEFE, 1919, Route de Mende, F-34293 Montpellier Cedex 5, France Fax: 33 04 67 41 21 38; e-mail: hurtrez@cefe.cnrs-mop.fr, FR;(2) Laboratoire de Parasitologie Comparée (UMR 5555, CNRS), Case 105, Université Montpellier II, Place E. Bataillon, F-34095 Montpellier Cedex 5, France, FR |
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Abstract: | The detrimental effects of ectoparasites on the breeding success of birds have been especially well demonstrated in the case
of ectoparasites that affect both chicks and their parents. Since blowfly larvae of the genus Protocalliphora attack only nestling birds, they represent a good model for testing the consequences of parasitism on nestlings. A Corsican
population of blue tit suffers extremely high rates of infestation by blowflies, which are suspected to negatively affect
young birds. Comparing experimentally deparasitized (treated) and naturally infested (control) broods, we showed that the
attack by Protocalliphora causes anaemia and an important disturbance to the chicks. Therefore, we expected that these effects would have a negative
impact on body condition and survival in the infested broods. Although we did not find any effect of treatment on fledging
success, our predictions were confirmed by lower growth rate, body mass at fledging and tarsus length at fledging in the control
compared with the treated group. This suggests that in this population, blowflies decrease the probability of recruitment
of young blue tits.
Received: 6 May 1997 / Accepted: 14 July 1997 |
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Keywords: | Parasitism Blue tit Blowfly Corsica |
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