INFLUENCE OF BLOOD PARASITES ON THE BODY MASS OF PASSERIFORM BIRDS

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Body masses of 3,739 birds representing immature and adult males and females of 15 species [Empidonax Flaviventris, Parus-atricapillus, Turdus migratorius, Catharus-guttatus, C. ustulatus, Dendroca magnolia, D. coronata, D. striata, Vermivora-peregrina, Melospiza lincolnii, Passerellailiaca, Seiurus-noveboracensis, Zonotrichia-albicellis, Wilsonia pusilla, Mniotilta varia] of passeriforms (both uninfected and infected with Haemoproteus spp. and Leucocytozoon spp.) were compared. There was some interaction among year, month and area of capture for several host species, but there was no discernible effect of either parasite genus on body mass. There were no effects due to high intensity of parasitemia for eight host species examined. Either parasitism does not cause loss of body mass, or the techniques used were too insensitive to separate effects of parasitism from other natural causes.

This publication has 1 reference indexed in Scilit: