reprintInfo.asp. DOI: 10.1525/cond.2010.100153 Abstract. The Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) breeds across the boreal forest zone of North America and winters throughout the eastern United States. Over the past four decades, the North American Breeding Bird Survey and the Christmas Bird Count have shown high rates of population decline ranging from approximately 5 to 12% per year. Regional...

A transcriptional product of a gene encoding cathepsin B-like peptidase in the bird schistosome Trichobilharzia regenti was identified and cloned. The enzyme was named TrCB2 due to its 77% sequence similarity to cathepsin B2 from the important human parasite Schistosoma mansoni. The zymogen was expressed in the methylotropic yeast Pichia pastoris; procathepsin B2 underwent self-processing in ye...

We experimentally investigated the interactions between two parasites known to manipulate their host's phenotype, the trematodes Acanthoparyphium sp. and Curtuteria australis, which infect the cockle Austrovenus stutchburyi. The larval stages of both species encyst within the tissue of the bivalve's muscular foot, with a preference for the tip of the foot. As more individuals accumulate at that...

Most North American bird species that are less successful in small forests than in large forests, are forest-interior specialists that winter in the tropics. These species have declined in small forests because of high rates of nest predation and brood parasitism near the forest edge. To determine whether migratory forest-interior specialists are also important components of bird communities in...

Poultry production is an important economic activity on inhabited islands of the Galápagos archipelago. There has been a recent surge in both small-scale backyard chickens and larger scale broiler production associated with growth in the human population and the tourist industry. With increased poultry production, concerns have been expressed about the increasing risk of transfer of disease fro...

Birds face varying risk from parasites as they select and utilize habitat. Unfortunately, behavioral and habitat correlates of parasitism in birds are not well documented. This study combines data from a foraging behavior study with results from a banding study to test whether behavior and habitat affect an ectoparasite infestation by trombiculid mite (chigger) larvae on the bird community foun...

Identification of transmission routes and of factors affecting the spatial positions of pathogens, hosts and vectors is basic to an adequate disease management. Nosema ceranae is a Microsporidian recently described as a parasite of Apis mellifera honeybees and is currently considered the aetiological agent of an emergent illness named nosemosis type C. In this article we evaluate the role of a ...

Avian brood parasitism is a model system for studies of coevolution and ecological interactions between parasites and their hosts. However, recent work may have led to misconceptions concerning the Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater), the most widely studied brood parasitic bird in the world, and its effects on host species. Potential misconceptions about this species that could affect manage...

Haemoproteus parasites (Apicomplexa, Haemosporida) are widespread pathogens of birds, with a rich genetic (about 1900 lineages) and morphospecies (178 species) diversity. Nonetheless, their life cycles poorly understood. The exo-erythrocytic stages three majoris (widespread generalist parasite) lineages have been previously reported, each in different bird species. We aimed to further study com...