Journal article
Haemosporidian prevalence and community composition vary little across a chickadee hybrid zone
Ornithology, v 138(3)
27 May 2021
Featured in Collection : UN Sustainable Development Goals @ Drexel
Abstract
Within animal hybrid zones, parasites may determine competitive outcomes between host species and thus affect hybridization dynamics. We addressed this hypothesis by evaluating haemosporidian prevalence and community composition in a rapidly moving hybrid zone between Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) and Carolina Chickadees (P. carolinensis). Using molecular methods, we screened for haemosporidians in multiple chickadee populations across the hybrid zone and investigated whether parasite prevalence varied as a function of admixture among these birds. We identified 36 parasite lineages from 3 haemosporidian genera (Plasmodium, Haemoproteus, and Leucocytozoon) but found no genera or lineages more likely to infect any particular chickadee taxon. Instead, haemosporidian prevalence varied across sites and seasons: Leucocytozoon was more prevalent during chickadees' breeding season, whereas Haemoproteus prevalence peaked during nonbreeding periods. Leucocytozoon infected proportionally fewer birds at the leading edge of the hybrid zone than near its center. However, haemosporidian communities were similar among chickadee populations, and evidence for parasite exchanges between chickadee taxa was lacking. These results underscore the complexity of bird–parasite relationships and suggest that haemosporidians are unlikely to play a major role in the ongoing movement of this hybrid zone. LAY SUMMARY We tested whether patterns of parasite diversity and prevalence support the hypothesis that parasite communities may determine competitive outcomes within an iconic avian hybrid zone. We used molecular methods to detect and identify haemosporidian lineages infecting Black-capped, Carolina, and hybrid chickadees across their hybrid zone in southeastern Pennsylvania. Analyses revealed 36 unique haemosporidian lineages, the prevalence and richness of which varied little across chickadee taxa. For some parasites, locality and season predicted haemosporidian prevalence. Haemosporidians are likely not key drivers underlying movement of this chickadee hybrid zone.
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Details
- Title
- Haemosporidian prevalence and community composition vary little across a chickadee hybrid zone
- Creators
- Ari A Rice - Villanova UniversityRobert L Curry - Villanova UniversityJason D Weckstein - Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University
- Publication Details
- Ornithology, v 138(3)
- Publisher
- University of California Press
- Number of pages
- 13
- Resource Type
- Journal article
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Biodiversity, Earth, and Environmental Science (BEES)
- Web of Science ID
- WOS:000674759600019
- Scopus ID
- 2-s2.0-85117359817
- Other Identifier
- 991019168621204721
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Web of Science research areas
- Ornithology