Adaptive significance of avian beak morphology for ectoparasite control

Clayton, Dale H.; Moyer, Burton J.; Bush, Sarah E.; Jones, Tony; Gardiner, David W.; Rhodes, Barry B; Goller, Franz

doi:10.1098/rspb.2004.3036

Cited by 130 publications

(105 citation statements)

References 30 publications

(43 reference statements)

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“…Clayton et al [125] demonstrated how the maxillary overhang functions to control lice. Experimental removal of the tiny (1-2 mm) overhang (Fig.…”

Section: Grooming: Self-preeningmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…importance of the maxillary overhang for controlling lice, Clayton et al [125] concluded that the adaptive radiation of beak morphology in birds should be re-assessed with both feeding and preening in mind.…”

Section: Grooming: Self-preeningmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Within the species Western Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma californica), populations living in scrub oak have a pronounced overhang (c), whereas those living in pinyon pine have no overhang (d). Rock Pigeons (Columba livia) have a pronounced overhang (e), which Clayton et al [125] trimmed using a Dremel ® rotary tool (f). Trimming is a harmless procedure, and the overhang regrows in 1-2 weeks.…”

Section: Grooming: Self-preeningmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

How Birds Combat Ectoparasites

Clayton¹,

Koop²,

Harbison³

et al. 2010

TOOENIJ

222

211

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Birds are plagued by an impressive diversity of ectoparasites, ranging from feather-feeding lice, to featherdegrading bacteria. Many of these ectoparasites have severe negative effects on host fitness. It is therefore not surprising that selection on birds has favored a variety of possible adaptations for dealing with ectoparasites. The functional significance of some of these defenses has been well documented. Others have barely been studied, much less tested rigorously. In this article we review the evidence -or lack thereof -for many of the purported mechanisms birds have for dealing with ectoparasites. We concentrate on features of the plumage and its components, as well as anti-parasite behaviors. In some cases, we present original data from our own recent work. We make recommendations for future studies that could improve our understanding of this poorly known aspect of avian biology.

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“…Clayton et al [125] demonstrated how the maxillary overhang functions to control lice. Experimental removal of the tiny (1-2 mm) overhang (Fig.…”

Section: Grooming: Self-preeningmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Grooming: Self-preeningmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Grooming: Self-preeningmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

How Birds Combat Ectoparasites

Clayton¹,

Koop²,

Harbison³

et al. 2010

TOOENIJ

222

211

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Finally, morphologies of avian bills and claws may partially reflect adaptations to combat lice. Several birds have slightly hooked upper mandibles, and this small, curved upper bill overhang is essential for the efficient preening to control ectoparasites (Clayton et al, 2005). Similarly, some avian taxa possess pectinate claws, potentially increasing efficacy of scratching against lice (Bush et al, 2012).…”

Section: The Bird-louse Relationshipmentioning

confidence: 99%

Host correlates of diversification in avian lice

Rózsa

Vas

2015

Parasite Diversity and Diversification

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“…The feather damage they cause has thermoregulatory costs that lead to reductions in host fitness (18). Birds defend themselves against feather lice by destroying or removing the lice with their bill during frequent bouts of preening (19).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Community interactions govern host-switching with implications for host–parasite coevolutionary history

Harbison

Clayton

2011

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Reciprocal selective effects between coevolving species are often influenced by interactions with the broader ecological community. Community-level interactions may also influence macroevolutionary patterns of coevolution, such as cospeciation, but this hypothesis has received little attention. We studied two groups of ecologically similar feather lice (Phthiraptera: Ischnocera) that differ in their patterns of association with a single group of hosts. The two groups, "body lice" and "wing lice," are both parasites of pigeons and doves (Columbiformes). Body lice are more host-specific and show greater population genetic structure than wing lice. The macroevolutionary history of body lice also parallels that of their columbiform hosts more closely than does the evolutionary history of wing lice. The closer association of body lice with hosts, compared with wing lice, can be explained if body lice are less capable of switching hosts than wing lice. Wing lice sometimes disperse phoretically on parasitic flies (Diptera: Hippoboscidae), but body lice seldom engage in this behavior. We tested the hypothesis that wing lice switch host species more often than body lice, and that the difference is governed by phoresis. Our results show that, where flies are present, wing lice switch to novel host species in sufficient numbers to establish viable populations on the new host. Body lice do not switch hosts, even where flies are present. Thus, differences in the coevolutionary history of wing and body lice can be explained by differences in host-switching, mediated by a member of the broader parasite community.coevolutionary biology | community ecology | phoresy | ectoparasites

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Adaptive significance of avian beak morphology for ectoparasite control

Cited by 130 publications

References 30 publications

How Birds Combat Ectoparasites

How Birds Combat Ectoparasites

Host correlates of diversification in avian lice

Community interactions govern host-switching with implications for host–parasite coevolutionary history

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