Haemosporidian parasite diversity and prevalence in the songbird genus <i>Junco</i> across Central and North America

Abstract The evolution of host–parasite interactions as host lineages colonize new geographic regions and diversify over evolutionary time is poorly understood. To assess whether haemosporidian parasite diversity has changed during the diversification an avian host, we surveyed prevalence blood (genera Plasmodium, Haemoproteus, Leucocytozoon) across range songbird genus Junco, which diversified recently it recolonized North America following last glacial maximum ~18,000 years ago. We report parasites in junco taxa sampled from Costa Rica to Canada, examine influence local species richness samples. screened for each individual by sequencing a fragment their cytochrome b gene, identifying different lineages, quantifying per taxon locality. Of 304 juncos sampled, 178 tested positive 1 or more genera (58.5% overall prevalence). found high Haemoproteus Leucocytozoon much lower Plasmodium. Among 63 detected, 32 have not been previously described, generalist with widespread but low also some that appear remained specialized on this thousands years. Our results suggest parasitic strategies, ranging within single genera.