Title:

Effects of Protocalliphora parasites on nestling food composition in Corsican blue tits Parus caeruleus: consequences for nestling performance

Subtitle:

Acta Ornithologica, vol. 39, no. 2 ; Wpływ pasożytniczych larw Protocalliphora na skład pokarmu korsykańskich sikor modrych: konsekwencje dla kondycji i przeżycia piskląt ; Ectoparasites and nestling diet composition

Creator:

Bańbura, Jerzy ; Perret Philippe ; Blondel Jacques ; Thomas Donald W ; Cartan-Son Mireille ; Lambrechts Marcel M. ; Polska Akademia Nauk. Muzeum i Instytut Zoologii

Contributor:

Museum and Institute of Zoology, Polish Academy of Sciences

Publisher:

Museum & Institute of Zoology

Place of publishing:

Warszawa

Date issued/created:

2004

Description:

Bibliogr. sp 101-103 ; P. [93]-103 : il. ; 27 cm ; Abstarct in Polish

Type of object:

Journal/Article

Subject and Keywords:

Blue Tit ; Parus caeruleus ; ectoparasite ; Protocalliphora ; food composition ; diet ; parental care ; compensation ; nestling performance

Abstract:

The influence of a parasite (larvae of Protocalliphora, Diptera: Calliphoridae) on an avian host (Blue Tit) was studied in 1994–1997 as part of a long-term research project on a population of Blue Tits inhabiting nest boxes on the island of Corsica. The Blue Tit broods were heavily infested with Protocalliphora larvae. The abundance of caterpillars as a key food type for the tits was monitored. A random sample of 16 nests was experimentally subjected to an anti-parasite heat treatment, which resulted in a marked decline in the numbers of Protocalliphora larvae. Untreated nests, with high numbers of parasites, were regarded as control nests. Under the anti-parasite treatment, Blue Tit nestlings were fed less frequently than the control nestlings (8 v. 11 food items per hour per nestling). Significant changes in the diet composition occurred, with parasite-free nestlings being consistently fed with fewer caterpillars. An average parasitised nestling was supplied by its parents with 2.6 caterpillars more than an average parasite-free chick. This suggests that in the highly parasitised control nests, the parent tits made an effort to compensate for the detrimental effects caused by Protocalliphora larvae. Feeding rate and food composition were shown to influence chick condition and survival in the nest. In spite of these facts, the nestlings in parasitised nests developed less rapidly and had lower survival rates than in the anti-parasitically heat-treated nests. The parasitic Protocalliphora larvae have a double effect on their avian host: they adversely affect nestling performance, and they compel adult tits to work harder in order to at least partially compensate for that influence.

Relation:

Acta Ornithologica

Volume:

39

Issue:

2

Start page:

93

End page:

104

Resource type:

Text

Detailed Resource Type:

Journal

Format:

text/xml

Resource Identifier:

click here to follow the link

Source:

MiIZ PAN, call no. patrz sygn. czas. P.257-39-2 ; MiIZ PAN, call no. patrz sygn. czas. P.4568-39-2 ; click here to follow the link

Language:

eng

Rights:

Rights Reserved - Free Access

Terms of use:

Copyright-protected material. May be used within the limits of statutory user freedoms

Digitizing institution:

Museum and Institute of Zoology of the Polish Academy of Sciences

Original in:

Library of the Museum and Institute of Zoology of the Polish Academy of Sciences

Access:

Open