Darwin’s finches combat introduced nest parasites with fumigated cotton
نویسندگان
چکیده
Introduced parasites are a threat to biodiversity when naïve hosts lack effective defenses against such parasites [1]. Several parasites have recently colonized the Galápagos Islands, threatening native bird populations [2]. For example, the introduced parasitic nest fly Philornis downsi (Diptera: Muscidae) has been implicated in the decline of endangered species of Darwin's finches, such as the mangrove finch (Camarhynchus heliobates) [3]. Here, we show that Darwin's finches can be encouraged to 'self-fumigate' nests with cotton fibers that have been treated with permethrin. Nests with permethrin-treated cotton had significantly fewer P. downsi than control nests, and nests containing at least one gram of cotton were virtually parasite-free. Nests directly fumigated with permethrin had fewer parasites and fledged more offspring than nests treated with water.
منابع مشابه
Video analysis of host–parasite interactions in nests of Darwin’s finches
Parasites place their hosts under strong selection for adaptive traits that increase parasite resistance. The initial impact of invasive parasites has rarely been observed and can be particularly strong on naı̈ve hosts with limited prior exposure to parasites.Philornis downsi is an introduced fly to theGalapagos Islands whose parasitic larvae cause high mortality in nestlings of Darwin’s finches...
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ورودعنوان ژورنال:
- Current Biology
دوره 24 شماره
صفحات -
تاریخ انتشار 2014