Avian malaria-mediated population decline of a widespread iconic bird species
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 t...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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The Royal Society
2019-07-01
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| Series: | Royal Society Open Science |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsos.182197 |
| _version_ | 1819114033969627136 |
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| author | Daria Dadam Robert A. Robinson Anabel Clements Will J. Peach Malcolm Bennett J. Marcus Rowcliffe Andrew A. Cunningham |
| author_facet | Daria Dadam Robert A. Robinson Anabel Clements Will J. Peach Malcolm Bennett J. Marcus Rowcliffe Andrew A. Cunningham |
| author_sort | Daria Dadam |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | 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 Plasmodium relictum infection intensity. Other parasites were much less prevalent and exhibited no relationship with sparrow survival and no negative relationship with population growth. Low rates of co-infection suggested sparrows were not immunocompromised. Our findings indicate that P. relictum infection may be influencing house sparrow population dynamics in suburban areas. The demographic sensitivity of the house sparrow to P. relictum infection in London might reflect a recent increase in exposure to this parasite. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T04:38:52Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-2dcf74b142f349689793461aa8e991c0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2054-5703 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T04:38:52Z |
| publishDate | 2019-07-01 |
| publisher | The Royal Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Royal Society Open Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-2dcf74b142f349689793461aa8e991c02022-12-21T18:38:48ZengThe Royal SocietyRoyal Society Open Science2054-57032019-07-016710.1098/rsos.182197182197Avian malaria-mediated population decline of a widespread iconic bird speciesDaria DadamRobert A. RobinsonAnabel ClementsWill J. PeachMalcolm BennettJ. Marcus RowcliffeAndrew A. CunninghamParasites 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 Plasmodium relictum infection intensity. Other parasites were much less prevalent and exhibited no relationship with sparrow survival and no negative relationship with population growth. Low rates of co-infection suggested sparrows were not immunocompromised. Our findings indicate that P. relictum infection may be influencing house sparrow population dynamics in suburban areas. The demographic sensitivity of the house sparrow to P. relictum infection in London might reflect a recent increase in exposure to this parasite.https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsos.182197plasmodiumhouse sparrowpasser domesticusdeclinesurvivalpopulation |
| spellingShingle | Daria Dadam Robert A. Robinson Anabel Clements Will J. Peach Malcolm Bennett J. Marcus Rowcliffe Andrew A. Cunningham Avian malaria-mediated population decline of a widespread iconic bird species Royal Society Open Science plasmodium house sparrow passer domesticus decline survival population |
| title | Avian malaria-mediated population decline of a widespread iconic bird species |
| title_full | Avian malaria-mediated population decline of a widespread iconic bird species |
| title_fullStr | Avian malaria-mediated population decline of a widespread iconic bird species |
| title_full_unstemmed | Avian malaria-mediated population decline of a widespread iconic bird species |
| title_short | Avian malaria-mediated population decline of a widespread iconic bird species |
| title_sort | avian malaria mediated population decline of a widespread iconic bird species |
| topic | plasmodium house sparrow passer domesticus decline survival population |
| url | https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/pdf/10.1098/rsos.182197 |
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