Intracolonial differences in the infestation by Haemoproteus lari on Yellow-legged Gulls Larus cachinnans

The prevalence and intensity of Haemoproteus lari infestation were studied in a colony of Yellow-legged Gulls (Larus cachinnans) on the Medes Islands (NE Spain) during 1994 and 1995. Prevalence did not differ between years, sexes, clutch sizes or nesting habitats . More heavily infected females tend...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Bosch, Marc, Figuerola Borras, Jordi|||0000-0002-4664-9011, Cantos, Francisco J., Velarde, Roser|||0000-0003-3332-6405
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:1997
País:España
Institución:Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Repositorio:Dipòsit Digital de Documents de la UAB
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:ddd.uab.cat:234588
Acceso en línea:https://ddd.uab.cat/record/234588
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Gavines
Malalties parasitàries
Ocells -- Malalties
Descripción
Sumario:The prevalence and intensity of Haemoproteus lari infestation were studied in a colony of Yellow-legged Gulls (Larus cachinnans) on the Medes Islands (NE Spain) during 1994 and 1995. Prevalence did not differ between years, sexes, clutch sizes or nesting habitats . More heavily infected females tended to lay smaller clutches and to be in a leaner body condition; in males, intensity of parasites was unrelated to their clutch size and their body condition. These results are partially consistent with the detrimental effect of blood parasites, but also with a tendency for stressed birds to relapse . Intensity of parasitemia differed both between years and among nesting habitats of the gullery, probably as a result of differences in bird quality at the time of sampling. We suggest that these effects should be controlled for in studies dealing with parasites in colonial nesting birds.