Intraspecific Competition Promotes Oviposition During Host Egg Incubation in the Parasitic Fly Philornis downsi [PDF]
Avian biodiversity declines are increasingly linked to invasive parasites threatening local bird populations that lack evolved defenses. The level of virulence in these interactions, in turn, influences the parasites' own fitness and drives co ...
Barbara Kofler +4 more
doaj +4 more sources
Trypanosomatids Detected in the Invasive Avian Parasite Philornis downsi (Diptera: Muscidae) in the Galapagos Islands [PDF]
Alien insect species may present a multifaceted threat to ecosystems into which they are introduced. In addition to the direct damage they may cause, they may also bring novel diseases and parasites and/or have the capacity to vector microorganisms that ...
Courtney L. Pike +3 more
doaj +5 more sources
Avian vampire fly (Philornis downsi) mortality differs across Darwin’s finch host species [PDF]
In invasive parasites, generalism is considered advantageous during the initial phase of introduction. Thereafter, fitness costs to parasites, such as host-specific mortality, can drive parasites towards specialism to avoid costly hosts.
Lauren K. Common +4 more
doaj +7 more sources
Genetic variation in the invasive avian parasite,
Background Understanding the dispersal and genetic structure of invasive insects across islands is important for designing management plans that are appropriate at spatial and temporal scales.
Donnellan Steve +3 more
doaj +8 more sources
Epigenetic effects of parasites and pesticides on captive and wild nestling birds [PDF]
Anthropogenic changes to the environment challenge animal populations to adapt to new conditions and unique threats. While the study of adaptation has focused on genetic variation, epigenetic mechanisms may also be important. DNA methylation is sensitive
Sabrina M. McNew +7 more
doaj +3 more sources
Persistence of the invasive bird-parasitic fly Philornis downsi over the host interbreeding period in the Galapagos Islands [PDF]
Many parasites of seasonally available hosts must persist through times of the year when hosts are unavailable. In tropical environments, host availability is often linked to rainfall, and adaptations of parasites to dry periods remain understudied.
Mariana Bulgarella +12 more
doaj +5 more sources
Evidence for rapid downward fecundity selection in an ectoparasite (Philornis downsi) with earlier host mortality in Darwin's finches. [PDF]
Frontal view of a female Philornis downsi, a myasis‐causing paraiste of Darwin's finches, whose body size, abdomen size, and fecundity have decreased c. 30% across 12 years as nestling hosts die at an ever younger age. Photo by Bradley Sinclair. Abstract Fecundity selection is a critical component of fitness and a major driver of adaptive evolution ...
Common LK +4 more
europepmc +6 more sources
Parental food provisioning and nestling growth under Philornis downsi parasitism in the Galapagos Green Warbler-Finch, classified as 'vulnerable' by the IUCN. [PDF]
In the Galapagos Islands, many endemic landbird populations are declining due to habitat degradation, food availability, introduced species and other factors.
Pike CL +4 more
europepmc +8 more sources
Invasive parasites, habitat change and heavy rainfall reduce breeding success in Darwin's finches. [PDF]
Invasive alien parasites and pathogens are a growing threat to biodiversity worldwide, which can contribute to the extinction of endemic species. On the Galápagos Islands, the invasive parasitic fly Philornis downsi poses a major threat to the endemic ...
Arno Cimadom +9 more
doaj +7 more sources
Life-stage and sex influence Philornis ectoparasitism in a Neotropical woodpecker Melanerpes striatus with essential male parental care [PDF]
The nestlings of many Neotropical bird species suffer from Philornis (Diptera: Muscidae) ectoparasitism. Although nestlings are typically considered the intended targets, recent work indicates that Philornis infest adult birds more frequently than ...
LaPergola, Joshua B.
core +2 more sources

