Migration distance does not predict blood parasitism in a migratory songbird.

ABSTRACT: Migration can influence host-parasite dynamics in animals by increasing exposure to parasites, by reducing the energy available for immune defense, or by culling of infected individuals. These mechanisms have been demonstrated in several comparative analyses; however, few studies have investigated whether conspecific variation in migration distance may also be related to infection risk. Here, we ask whether autumn migration distance, inferred from stable hydrogen isotope analysis of summer-grown feathers (δ ²H_f) in Europe, correlates with blood parasite prevalence and intensity of infection for willow warblers (Phylloscopus trochilus) wintering in Zambia. We also investigated whether infection was correlated with individual condition (assessed via cortic

SUBMITTER: Sorensen MC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6662322 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature