Consequences of chronic infections with three different avian malaria lineages on reproductive performance of Lesser Kestrels (Falco naumanni) |
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Authors: | Joaquín Ortego Pedro J Cordero José Miguel Aparicio and Gustau Calabuig |
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Institution: | (1) Grupo de Investigación de la Biodiversidad Genética y Cultural, Instituto de Investigación en Recursos Cinegéticos, IREC (CSIC, UCLM, JCCM), Ronda de Toledo s/n, 13005 Ciudad Real, Spain |
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Abstract: | We studied the consequences of chronic infections by three different lineages of avian malaria, two Plasmodium (RTSR1, LK6) and one Haemoproteus (LK2), on reproductive performance of Lesser Kestrels (Falco naumanni). Malaria infections in male and female parents had no effect on clutch size, hatching success or nesting success. However,
when only successful nests were considered, we found that males parasitized by LK6 raised a lower number of fledglings, suggesting
that the level of parental effort by males may be limited by this particular lineage of Plasmodium. This effect was not evident in females, probably due to the higher investment of males during the chick rearing period in
this species. Overall, we have found that chronic stages of specific malaria lineages have certain negative consequences on
host reproductive performance, highlighting the importance of considering genetic differences among malaria parasites to study
their consequences on natural bird populations. |
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Keywords: | Avian malaria Disease Falco naumanni Haemoproteus Plasmodium |
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