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- Title
Age-related parasite load and longevity patterns in the sedge warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus.
- Authors
Bielański, Wojciech; Biedrzycka, Aleksandra; Zając, Tadeusz; Ćmiel, Adam; Solarz, Wojciech
- Abstract
We report the results from a nine-year study on parasite infection in males of a small migrant passerine, the sedge warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus. Every year, for each male caught during territory establishment we estimated infection intensity of two lineages of Haemoproteus belopolskyi (SW1 and SW3), using molecular methods. We found a significant relationship between infection intensity and males' longevity in both studied lineages. There was severe mortality of second-year sedge warblers after their first breeding season, with lower parasite load in survivors. The lower infection intensity in older age classes was related to between-individual change in both lineages, but was also a result of differences in infection intensity during the lifetime of individual males in the SW3. The relation between parasite load and longevity suggests that parasite load may be an age-dependent factor influencing individual survival.
- Subjects
REED warblers; PARASITES; PASSERIFORMES; BIRD infections; WARBLERS
- Publication
Journal of Avian Biology, 2017, Vol 48, Issue 7, p997
- ISSN
0908-8857
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1111/jav.00949