We examined temporal and geographical distribution of Haemoproteus sp. and Plasmodium sp. parasites in Swedish willow warblers, Phylloscopus trochilus. Parasite lineages were detected with molecular methods in 556 birds from 41 sites distributed at distances up to 1,500 km. Two mitochondrial lineages of Haemoproteus sp. were detected, WW1 in 56 birds and WW2 in 75 birds, that differed by 5.2% sequence divergence. We discuss the reasons behind the observed pattern of variation and identify 3 possible causes: (1) variation in the geographic distribution of the vector species, (2) the degree of parasite sharing with other bird species coexisting with the willow warbler, and (3) timing of transmission. Our results support a fundamental and rarely tested assumption of the now classical Hamilton–Zuk hypothesis of sexual selection, namely, that these parasites vary in both time and space. Such fluctuations of parasites and the selection pressure they supposedly impose on the host population are likely to maintain variation in immune system genes in the host population.
Skip Nav Destination
Close
Article navigation
April 2003
Research Article|
April 01 2003
Temporal and Spatial Variation of Hematozoans in Scandinavian Willow Warblers
Staffan Bensch;
Staffan Bensch
Department of Animal Ecology, Ecology Building, S-223 62 Lund, Sweden. staffan.bensch@zooekol.lu.se
Search for other works by this author on:
Susanne Åkesson
Susanne Åkesson
Department of Animal Ecology, Ecology Building, S-223 62 Lund, Sweden. staffan.bensch@zooekol.lu.se
Search for other works by this author on:
J Parasitol (2003) 89 (2): 388–391.
Citation
Staffan Bensch, Susanne Åkesson; Temporal and Spatial Variation of Hematozoans in Scandinavian Willow Warblers. J Parasitol 1 April 2003; 89 (2): 388–391. doi: https://doi.org/10.1645/0022-3395(2003)089[0388:TASVOH]2.0.CO;2
Download citation file:
Close
Sign in
Don't already have an account? Register
Client Account
You could not be signed in. Please check your email address / username and password and try again.
Sign in via your Institution
Sign in via your InstitutionCiting articles via
Multilocus Metabarcoding of Terrestrial Leech Bloodmeal iDNA Increases Species Richness Uncovered in Surveys of Vertebrate Host Biodiversity
Mai Fahmy, Kalani M. Williams, Michael Tessler, Sarah R. Weiskopf, Evon Hekkala, Mark E. Siddall
Four Species of Under-reported Parasitic Arthropods in Mexico and their Potential Role as Vectors of Pathogens
Carlos Baak-Baak, Julian Garcia-Rejon, Julio Tzuc-Dzul, David Nuñez-Corea, Roger Arana-Guardia, Rosa Cetina-Trejo, Carlos Machain-Williams, Matilde Jimenez-Coello, Karla Acosta-Viana, Oswaldo Torres-Chable, Jose E. Pietri, Nohemi Cigarroa-Toledo
Chewing Lice of Fregata magnificens with First Record of Fregatiella aurifasciata (Phthiraptera: Amblycera) in Brazil
Magda Antonello, Rubem F. S. Menna-Barreto, Daniela Leles, J. R. Pires, Beatriz Brener