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Title: Long‐term variation in environmental conditions influences host–parasite fitness

Abstract

Abstract Long‐term data on host and parasite fitness are important for predicting how host–parasite interactions will be altered in an era of global change. Here, we use data collected from 1997 to 2013 to explore effects of changing environmental conditions on bird–blowfly interactions in northern New Mexico. The objectives of this study were to examine what climate variables influence blowfly prevalence and intensity and to determine whether blowflies and climate variables affect bird fledging success. We examined how temperature, precipitation, and drought affect two parasitic blowflies and their hosts, Western Bluebirds ( Sialia mexicana ) and Ash‐throated Flycatchers ( Myiarchus cinerascens ). We found that blowfly prevalence did not change over time. Blowfly intensity increased over time in bluebird nests, but not in flycatcher nests. More blowflies result in slightly higher fledging success in bluebirds, but not flycatchers. There was a significant interaction between blowflies and precipitation on bluebird fledging success. For flycatchers, there was a significant interaction between blowflies and temperature and between blowflies and drought severity on fledging success. Given that the southwest is projected to be hotter and have more frequent and prolonged droughts, we predict that flycatchers may be negatively impacted by blowflies if these trendsmore » continue. Future work should focus on investigating the role of both blowflies and climate on fledging success. Climate patterns may negatively impact host fitness through altered parasite pressure.« less

Authors:
ORCiD logo [1]; ORCiD logo [2]; ORCiD logo [2]
  1. Environmental Stewardship Los Alamos National Laboratory Los Alamos New Mexico
  2. Biosecurity and Public Health Los Alamos National Laboratory Los Alamos New Mexico
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Org.:
USDOE
OSTI Identifier:
1560201
Alternate Identifier(s):
OSTI ID: 1544688; OSTI ID: 1560202
Report Number(s):
LA-UR-18-31593
Journal ID: ISSN 2045-7758
Grant/Contract Number:  
89233218CNA000001; AC52-06NA25396
Resource Type:
Published Article
Journal Name:
Ecology and Evolution
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Name: Ecology and Evolution Journal Volume: 9 Journal Issue: 13; Journal ID: ISSN 2045-7758
Publisher:
Wiley Blackwell (John Wiley & Sons)
Country of Publication:
United Kingdom
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; 59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES; blowflies; climate; environmental change; host–parasite interactions; nestlings; parasites

Citation Formats

Musgrave, Karen, Bartlow, Andrew W., and Fair, Jeanne M. Long‐term variation in environmental conditions influences host–parasite fitness. United Kingdom: N. p., 2019. Web. doi:10.1002/ece3.5321.
Musgrave, Karen, Bartlow, Andrew W., & Fair, Jeanne M. Long‐term variation in environmental conditions influences host–parasite fitness. United Kingdom. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.5321
Musgrave, Karen, Bartlow, Andrew W., and Fair, Jeanne M. Thu . "Long‐term variation in environmental conditions influences host–parasite fitness". United Kingdom. https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.5321.
@article{osti_1560201,
title = {Long‐term variation in environmental conditions influences host–parasite fitness},
author = {Musgrave, Karen and Bartlow, Andrew W. and Fair, Jeanne M.},
abstractNote = {Abstract Long‐term data on host and parasite fitness are important for predicting how host–parasite interactions will be altered in an era of global change. Here, we use data collected from 1997 to 2013 to explore effects of changing environmental conditions on bird–blowfly interactions in northern New Mexico. The objectives of this study were to examine what climate variables influence blowfly prevalence and intensity and to determine whether blowflies and climate variables affect bird fledging success. We examined how temperature, precipitation, and drought affect two parasitic blowflies and their hosts, Western Bluebirds ( Sialia mexicana ) and Ash‐throated Flycatchers ( Myiarchus cinerascens ). We found that blowfly prevalence did not change over time. Blowfly intensity increased over time in bluebird nests, but not in flycatcher nests. More blowflies result in slightly higher fledging success in bluebirds, but not flycatchers. There was a significant interaction between blowflies and precipitation on bluebird fledging success. For flycatchers, there was a significant interaction between blowflies and temperature and between blowflies and drought severity on fledging success. Given that the southwest is projected to be hotter and have more frequent and prolonged droughts, we predict that flycatchers may be negatively impacted by blowflies if these trends continue. Future work should focus on investigating the role of both blowflies and climate on fledging success. Climate patterns may negatively impact host fitness through altered parasite pressure.},
doi = {10.1002/ece3.5321},
journal = {Ecology and Evolution},
number = 13,
volume = 9,
place = {United Kingdom},
year = {Thu Jun 20 00:00:00 EDT 2019},
month = {Thu Jun 20 00:00:00 EDT 2019}
}

Journal Article:
Free Publicly Available Full Text
Publisher's Version of Record
https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.5321

Citation Metrics:
Cited by: 12 works
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