Results 31 to 40 of about 468 (146)

Host-parasite ecology, behavior and genetics: a review of the introduced fly parasite Philornis downsi and its Darwin’s finch hosts [PDF]

BMC Zoology, 2016
Understanding host-parasite interactions requires that the multi-faceted relationships among ecological, behavioral and molecular processes be characterized and integrated. The introduced parasitic fly of birds, Philornis downsi (Diptera: Muscidae), was accidentally introduced to the Galapagos Islands circa 1960s and the consequences of its ...
Rachael Y. Dudaniec, Sonia Kleindorfer
core   +2 more sources

Genomic Insights into the Successful Invasion of the Avian Vampire Fly (Philornis downsi ) in the Galápagos Islands. [PDF]

Mol Biol Evol
Abstract Invasive species pose significant threats to island ecosystems, often leading to the decline of native species and the disruption of ecological balance. The avian vampire fly (Philornis downsi), introduced to the Galápagos Islands of Ecuador, has emerged as a major threat to the endemic avifauna, parasitizing multiple species
Basnet A, Palacios C, Meng H, Nakhwa DR, Farmer T, Dahal N, Anchundia D, Heimpel GE, Causton CE, Koop JAH, Lamichhaney S.   +10 more
europepmc   +3 more sources

Life Cycle and Development of Diptera [PDF]

, 2021
Diptera, or true flies, are of considerable economic importance, as these flies have a valuable role as scavengers, parasitoids and predators of other insects, pollinators, food for predators, bio-indicators of water quality, and tools for scientific ...

core   +1 more source

Feather function and the evolution of birds

Biological Reviews, Volume 98, Issue 2, Page 540-566, April 2023., 2023
ABSTRACT The ability of feathers to perform many functions either simultaneously or at different times throughout the year or life of a bird is integral to the evolutionary history of birds. Many studies focus on single functions of feathers, but any given feather performs many functions over its lifetime. These functions necessarily interact with each
Ryan S. Terrill, Allison J. Shultz
wiley   +1 more source

Experimental demonstration of the fitness consequences of an introduced parasite of Darwin's finches. [PDF]

PLoS ONE, 2011
Introduced parasites are a particular threat to small populations of hosts living on islands because extinction can occur before hosts have a chance to evolve effective defenses.
Jennifer A H Koop, Sarah K Huber, Sean M Laverty, Dale H Clayton   +3 more
doaj   +1 more source

Specificity within bird–parasite–parasitoid food webs: A novel approach for evaluating potential biological control agents of the avian vampire fly

Journal of Applied Ecology, Volume 59, Issue 8, Page 2189-2198, August 2022., 2022
Our results confirm previous laboratory studies indicating specificity by Conura annulifera and support the hypothesis that this species would produce few, if any, nontarget impacts if released into Galapagos to suppress populations of the Philornis downsi.
Ismael E. Ramirez, Charlotte E. Causton, George A. Gutierrez, Denis A. Mosquera, Paolo Piedrahita, George E. Heimpel   +5 more
wiley   +1 more source

Functional traits and foraging behaviour: Avian vampire fly larvae change the beak and fitness of their Darwin's finch hosts

Functional Ecology, Volume 36, Issue 7, Page 1806-1817, July 2022., 2022
Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. Abstract The avian beak is a key morphological trait used for foraging. If parasites alter beak shape, we may expect changes in host foraging behaviour. Larvae of the avian vampire fly Philornis downsi cause naris enlargement in Darwin's finch nestlings when first and second ...
Sonia Kleindorfer, Diane Colombelli‐Négrel, Lauren K. Common, Jody A. O'Connor, Katharina J. Peters, Andrew C. Katsis, Rachael Y. Dudaniec, Frank J. Sulloway, Nicolas M. Adreani   +8 more
wiley   +1 more source

Avian disease surveillance on the island of San Cristóbal, Galápagos

Ecology and Evolution, Volume 11, Issue 24, Page 18422-18433, December 2021., 2021
In the Galápagos archipelago, two important wildlife diseases, avian pox (Avipoxvirus spp.) and avian malaria (Plasmodium spp. and related Haemosporidia), challenge endemic species. We find avian pox prevalence differs significantly with prevailing climate, being highest during El Niño events (~11% in 2016 and in 2019 versus <1% in the La Niña year of ...
Joshua G. Lynton‐Jenkins, Andrew F. Russell, Jaime Chaves, Camille Bonneaud   +3 more
wiley   +1 more source

Introduced parasite changes host phenotype, mating signal and hybridization risk: Philornis downsi effects on Darwin's finch song. [PDF]

Proc Biol Sci, 2019
Introduced parasites that alter their host's mating signal can change the evolutionary trajectory of a species through sexual selection. Darwin's Camarhynchus finches are threatened by the introduced fly Philornis downsi that is thought to have accidentally arrived on the Galapagos Islands ...
Kleindorfer S, Custance G, Peters KJ, Sulloway FJ.   +3 more
europepmc   +7 more sources

Darwin’s finches habitually anoint their feathers with leaves of the endemic tree Psidium galapageium during the non‐breeding season

Ethology, Volume 127, Issue 10, Page 914-924, October 2021., 2021
Our study revealed that four species of Darwin's finches habitually anoint their feathers with leaves of the endemic tree Psidium galapageium, which contain volatiles with anti‐parasitic properties. We observed anointing most frequently in the morning when leaves are still wet and probably omit more volatiles.
Sabine Tebbich, Timo Schwemhofer, Barbara Fischer, Courtney Pike   +3 more
wiley   +1 more source