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COPYRIGHT 2005 Wilson Ornithological Society
Swainson's Warbler (Limnothlypis swainsonii) is one of North America's most secretive avian species, and little is known about many aspects of its biology, including parasites and disease (Brown and Dickson 1994). Here, we present the first information regarding parasitism by Protocalliphora blow flies in this species. Larvae of Protocalliphora (Diptera: Calliphoridae) are obligate hematophagous parasites that reside in the nests of birds with nidicolous young. To feed, larvae of most species attach intermittently to the nestlings. Effects of this parasite on their avian hosts range from little or none (e.g., Miller and Fair 1997) to reduced hematocrit and hemoglobin levels (Whitworth and Bennett 1992), slowed growth and development (e.g., Johnson et al. 1991, Hurtrez-Bousses et al. 1997), reduced activity (Bergtold 1927), reduced adult survival (Wesolowski 2001), and death (Halstead 1988).
Swainson's Warblers are monomorphic, Neotropical migrants that breed in bottomland hardwood forests in the southeastern United States. During our study, nests were located in dark, densely vegetated areas near water in greenbriar (Smilax spp.), giant cane (Arundinaria gigantea), Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), and other substrates. Swainson's Warblers are single brooded and lay a clutch of 2-5 eggs (mean = 3.3); only the female broods and clutches hatch in 13-15 days (Brown and Dickson 1994)....
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