Avian malaria-mediated population decline of a widespread iconic bird species.

ABSTRACT: Parasites have the capacity to affect animal populations by modifying host survival, and it is increasingly recognized that infectious disease can negatively impact biodiversity. Populations of the house sparrow (Passer domesticus) have declined in many European towns and cities, but the causes of these declines remain unclear. We investigated associations between parasite infection and house sparrow demography across suburban London where sparrow abundance has declined by 71% since 1995. Plasmodium relictum infection was found at higher prevalences (averaging 74%) in suburban London house sparrows than previously recorded in any wild bird population in Northern Europe. Survival rates of juvenile and adult sparrows and population growth rate were negatively related to Plas

SUBMITTER: Dadam D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6689627 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature