Effects of forest structure on the interaction between avian hosts, dipteran vectors and haemosporidian parasites.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Forest habitats are important biodiversity refuges for a wide variety of bird species. Parasitism may modulate host species presence and abundance, and parasite effects can change according to forest management practices. Such processes are not well studied in vector-borne avian haemosporidians. We analyzed the effects of forest management on bird-dipteran-haemosporidian interactions, using seven common bird species in managed and unmanaged beech forest habitats in northeastern Germany. We assumed that forest structural heterogeneity affects parasite population parameters in avian hosts (i.e., prevalence and parasitemia), through its effect on the condition of the avian host but also through varying vector abundances.

Results

Parasite prevalence was high (about 80

SUBMITTER: van Hoesel W 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7437053 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature