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Dispersal ecology versus host specialization as determinants of ectoparasite distribution in brood parasitic indigobirds and their estrildid finch hosts.
Mol Ecol. 2007 Jan; 16(1):217-29.ME

Abstract

Brood parasitic birds offer a unique opportunity to examine the ecological and evolutionary determinants of host associations in avian feather lice (Phthiraptera). Brood parasitic behaviour effectively eliminates vertical transfer of lice between parasitic parents and offspring at the nest, while at the same time providing an opportunity for lice associated with the hosts of brood parasites to colonize the brood parasites as well. Thus, the biology of brood parasitism allows a test of the relative roles of host specialization and dispersal ecology in determining the host-parasite associations of birds and lice. If the opportunity for dispersal is the primary determinant of louse distributions, then brood parasites and their hosts should have similar louse faunas. In contrast, if host-specific adaptations limit colonization ability, lice associated with the hosts of brood parasites may be unable to persist on the brood parasites despite having an opportunity for colonization. We surveyed lice on four brood parasitic finch species (genus Vidua), their estrildid finch host species, and a few ploceid finches. While Brueelia lice were found on both parasitic and estrildid finches, a molecular phylogeny showed that lice infesting the two avian groups belong to two distinct clades within Brueelia. Likewise, distinct louse lineages within the amblyceran genus Myrsidea were found on estrildid finches and the parasitic pin-tailed whydah (Vidua macroura), respectively. Although common on estrildid finches, Myrsidea lice were entirely absent from the brood parasitic indigobirds. The distribution and relationships of louse species on brood parasitic finches and their hosts suggest that host-specific adaptations constrain the ability of lice to colonize new hosts, at least those that are distantly related.

Authors+Show Affiliations

Balakrishnan CN
Department of Biology, Boston University, 5 Cummington Street, Boston, MA 02215, USA. cbala@oeb.harvard.edu
Sorenson MD
No affiliation info available

MeSH

Adaptation, PhysiologicalAnimalsFinchesHost-Parasite InteractionsNesting BehaviorPhthirapteraPhylogenySequence Analysis, DNASpecies Specificity

Pub Type(s)

Journal Article
Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

Language

eng

PubMed ID

17181733

Citation

Balakrishnan, Christopher N., and Michael D. Sorenson. "Dispersal Ecology Versus Host Specialization as Determinants of Ectoparasite Distribution in Brood Parasitic Indigobirds and Their Estrildid Finch Hosts." Molecular Ecology, vol. 16, no. 1, 2007, pp. 217-29.
Balakrishnan CN, Sorenson MD. Dispersal ecology versus host specialization as determinants of ectoparasite distribution in brood parasitic indigobirds and their estrildid finch hosts. Mol Ecol. 2007;16(1):217-29.
Balakrishnan, C. N., & Sorenson, M. D. (2007). Dispersal ecology versus host specialization as determinants of ectoparasite distribution in brood parasitic indigobirds and their estrildid finch hosts. Molecular Ecology, 16(1), 217-29.
Balakrishnan CN, Sorenson MD. Dispersal Ecology Versus Host Specialization as Determinants of Ectoparasite Distribution in Brood Parasitic Indigobirds and Their Estrildid Finch Hosts. Mol Ecol. 2007;16(1):217-29. PubMed PMID: 17181733.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
TY - JOUR T1 - Dispersal ecology versus host specialization as determinants of ectoparasite distribution in brood parasitic indigobirds and their estrildid finch hosts. AU - Balakrishnan,Christopher N, AU - Sorenson,Michael D, PY - 2006/12/22/pubmed PY - 2007/3/17/medline PY - 2006/12/22/entrez SP - 217 EP - 29 JF - Molecular ecology JO - Mol Ecol VL - 16 IS - 1 N2 - Brood parasitic birds offer a unique opportunity to examine the ecological and evolutionary determinants of host associations in avian feather lice (Phthiraptera). Brood parasitic behaviour effectively eliminates vertical transfer of lice between parasitic parents and offspring at the nest, while at the same time providing an opportunity for lice associated with the hosts of brood parasites to colonize the brood parasites as well. Thus, the biology of brood parasitism allows a test of the relative roles of host specialization and dispersal ecology in determining the host-parasite associations of birds and lice. If the opportunity for dispersal is the primary determinant of louse distributions, then brood parasites and their hosts should have similar louse faunas. In contrast, if host-specific adaptations limit colonization ability, lice associated with the hosts of brood parasites may be unable to persist on the brood parasites despite having an opportunity for colonization. We surveyed lice on four brood parasitic finch species (genus Vidua), their estrildid finch host species, and a few ploceid finches. While Brueelia lice were found on both parasitic and estrildid finches, a molecular phylogeny showed that lice infesting the two avian groups belong to two distinct clades within Brueelia. Likewise, distinct louse lineages within the amblyceran genus Myrsidea were found on estrildid finches and the parasitic pin-tailed whydah (Vidua macroura), respectively. Although common on estrildid finches, Myrsidea lice were entirely absent from the brood parasitic indigobirds. The distribution and relationships of louse species on brood parasitic finches and their hosts suggest that host-specific adaptations constrain the ability of lice to colonize new hosts, at least those that are distantly related. SN - 0962-1083 UR - https://www.unboundmedicine.com/medline/citation/17181733/Dispersal_ecology_versus_host_specialization_as_determinants_of_ectoparasite_distribution_in_brood_parasitic_indigobirds_and_their_estrildid_finch_hosts_ DB - PRIME DP - Unbound Medicine ER -