Loss of forest cover and host functional diversity increases prevalence of avian malaria parasites in the Atlantic Forest

Host phylogenetic relatedness and ecological similarity are thought to contribute parasite community assembly infection rates. However, recent landscape level anthropogenic changes may disrupt host-parasite systems by impacting functional diversity of host communities. We examined whether in diversity, forest cover, minimum temperature influence the prevalence, distributions avian haemosporidian parasites (genera Haemoproteus Plasmodium) across 18 communities Atlantic Forest. To explore spatial patterns prevalence taxonomic we surveyed 2241 individuals belonging 233 species a deforestation gradient. Mean varied considerably responded differently attributes changes. Avian malaria (termed herein as an caused Plasmodium parasites) was higher deforested sites, both were negatively related diversity. Increased hosts increased local lineages but decreased this genus. Temperature did not parasites. Variation traits that promote encounter vector exposure (host diversity) partially explained variation Recent transformation (reduced proportion native cover) had major on occurrence This suggests that, for Plasmodium, biotic filter transmission largely factors. Our results demonstrate similar human other vector-transmitted pathogens, will likely increase with deforestation.