From the Visible to the Invisible: Patterns of Parasitism in Illinois Birds

Tallam, Krti

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/99975 Copy

Description

Title

From the Visible to the Invisible: Patterns of Parasitism in Illinois Birds

Author(s)

Tallam, Krti

Contributor(s)

• Stewart, Tara
• Merrill, Loren
• Benson, T.J.

Issue Date

2018-04

Keyword(s)

• Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences
• Parasites
• Avian health
• Detection bias
• Climate change
• Literature review

Abstract

Populations of many bird species have been declining throughout North America, although the causes of decline are often unclear. Rapidly changing environments present novel stressors that may be driving these declines by negatively impacting the health of birds. Therefore, we assessed how avian health is affected by environmental stressors along an urban to natural gradient. One potential indicator of bird health is infection with parasites and pathogens. In order to understand how environmental factors impact infection levels, we have to establish a baseline for measures of parasite diversity and abundance. For this project, we conducted a literature survey of articles from the past century documenting parasites and pathogens in seven common shrubland birds: the American Robin, Brown-headed Cowbird, Eastern Towhee, Field Sparrow, Gray Catbird, Brown Thrasher, and Northern Cardinal. We provide parasite species lists for each host, examine shared infections among hosts, and provide a map of the geographic range of observations. Parasites of many hosts are understudied, and we explore how detection bias may limit our understanding of parasite diversity and abundance. The project sought further, to develop an understanding of how climate change fits into this picture.

Type of Resource

image

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/99975

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2018 Krti Tallam

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