Philornis sp. bot fly larvae in free living scarlet macaw nestlings and a new technique for their extraction

Olah, George; Vigo, Gabriela; Ortiz, Lizzie; Rózsa, Lajos; Brightsmith, Donald J.

doi:10.1016/j.vetpar.2012.12.052

Cited by 10 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Our results indicate that native P. trinitensis parasites negatively affect host survival, contrary to the assumption that hosts are better defended against native than introduced parasites. Several correlational studies have reported that nestlings parasitized by native Philornis flies have lower survival than nestlings in non-parasitized nests (Arendt 2000, Rabuffetti and Reboreda 2007, Segura and Reboreda 2011, Quiroga and Reboreda 2012, Olah et al 2013). However, the prevalence of flies in these studies was less than 50% of nests, which has also been shown for other native hostparasite systems (Whitworth and Bennett 1992).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tri‐trophic ecology of native parasitic nest flies of birds inTobago

et al. 2017

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Abstract. Introduced parasites threaten host populations around the world. For example, introduced parasitic nest flies (Philornis downsi) have contributed to the decline of several species of Darwin's finches in the Galapagos Islands. Introduced parasites are thought to have severe effects on native hosts because the hosts do not have effective defenses against such parasites and/or because introduced parasites have escaped the native enemies that keep their own populations in check. Studying effects of parasites on native hosts is an essential step in testing these causal hypotheses. We conducted a field experiment to assess the virulence of a native species of Philornis (Philornis trinitensis), which parasitizes birds on the island of Tobago. We manipulated flies in nests of black-faced grassquits (Tiaris bicolor), a close relative of Darwin's finches, as well as tropical mockingbirds (Mimus gilvus), a congener of the Galapagos mockingbird (Mimus parvulus). We predicted that P. trinitensis would be relatively avirulent because its native hosts in Tobago have had time to evolve effective defenses against it. We also noted the presence of parasitoids and other enemies of Philornis in Tobago nests. Surprisingly, effects of native P. trinitensis on Tobago birds were similar to the effects of introduced P. downsi on birds in the Galapagos. Flies reduced the reproductive success of grassquits, but not mockingbirds, which are also relatively unaffected by Philornis in the Galapagos. Thus, native Philornis flies are not less virulent than introduced flies. The prevalence of Philornis in Tobago was lower than the prevalence of Philornis in the Galapagos. Presumed enemies of Philornis (parasitoid wasps and ants) were relatively common in nests of birds in Tobago, but largely absent from nests in the Galapagos. We suggest that introduced P. downsi in the Galapagos is widespread, not because hosts lack defenses, but because it has left its enemies behind.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tri‐trophic ecology of native parasitic nest flies of birds inTobago

et al. 2017

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“…Interestingly, all nestlings in two Blue-crowned Parakeet nests (Thectocercus acuticaudatus) in our study area were infested with botflies. Botflies can cause serious damage affecting nestling survival in some Neotropical birds (Dudaniec andKleindorfer 2006, Segura andReboreda 2011) including parrots, such as the Puerto Rican Amazon (Snyder et al 1987), the Lilac-crowned Amazon (Renton 2002), and the Scarlet Macaw (Ara macao; Olah et al 2013). In some Turquoise-fronted Parrot nests we observed green leaves inside the nesting cavity.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reproductive parameters of the Turquoise-fronted Parrot (Amazona aestiva) in the dry Chaco forest

Berkunsky¹,

Segura²,

Ruggera³

et al. 2017

ACE

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ABSTRACT. The progressive exploitation and destruction of nesting habitat in recent years, combined with the substantial pressure from legal and illegal removal of wild nestlings and adults, justifies the development of a comprehensive study on the reproductive biology of the Turquoise-fronted Parrot (Amazona aestiva). We analyzed breeding parameters in a wild protected population of Turquoise-fronted Parrots in the Chaco forest, Argentina, examining variation among years, over the course of the breeding season, and in relation to the age of the nest. Mean clutch-size per nesting attempt was 3.68 eggs. Hatching success (proportion of eggs laid that hatch) was 0.73. Fledging success (proportion of nestlings that fledge) was 0.88. The overall breeding success (mean number of fledglings per laying female per year) was 0.95. Clutch size did not vary among years but it decreased with the delay of the nest initiation date. Hatching failure was the greatest cause of egg partial losses, and brood reduction was the main cause of nestling partial loses. Brood reduction was positively correlated with clutch size and with egg-laying date. We did not find interannual variation in any of the clutch or brood size variables. Our results showed that the population of Turquoise-fronted Parrots in the dry Chaco forest has high values of clutch size and nestling survival, and low values of hatching success. However, some aspects of the breeding biology need more attention, especially if the species continues to be harvested.Paramètres de reproduction de l'Amazone à front bleu (Amazona aestiva) dans la forêt sèche du Chaco RÉSUMÉ. L'exploitation et la destruction progressives de l'habitat de nidification advenues ces récentes années, combinées à la pression élevée de captures légale et illégale d'oisillons et d'adultes sauvages, justifient la mise en place d'une étude globale sur la biologie de reproduction de l'Amazone à front bleu (Amazona aestiva). Nous avons analysé les paramètres de reproduction d'une population sauvage protégée de cette amazone dans la forêt du Chaco, en Argentine, examinant les variations interannuelles, tout au long de la saison de reproduction, en relation avec l'âge du nid. La taille moyenne de la ponte par tentative de nidification était de 3,68 oeufs. Le succès d'éclosion (proportion d'oeufs pondus qui ont éclos) était de 0,73. Le succès à l'envol (proportion de jeunes qui ont pris leur envol) était de 0,88. Le succès de nidification d'ensemble (nombre moyen de jeunes à l'envol par femelle nicheuse par année) était de 0,95. La taille de la ponte n'a pas varié d'une année à l'autre, mais était plus faible lorsque la date d'initiation du nid était retardée. L'échec de l'éclosion était la cause la plus importante de perte partielle d'oeufs et une couvée réduite était la cause principale de perte partielle d'oisillons. La couvée réduite était positivement corrélée avec la taille de la ponte et la date de celle-ci. Nous n'avons pas observé de variations interannuelles des variables relatives à la taille de la...

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“…New molecular data suggest cryptic species within the genus, which prompts calls for more extensive molecular phylogenetic analysis of the group (105). Populations of Philornis have been found in the United States (104), the Caribbean (34,118), Mexico (54,123), Costa Rica, (120), Panama (9), Peru (101,114), Brazil (57,85,102), Argentina (10, 21, 28, 89,92,94,106,111), Venezuela (116), and mainland Ecuador (13). Specimens are rare in collections (25) and generally reared from pupae and larvae collected from birds' nests.…”

Section: Systematics and Biogeographymentioning

confidence: 99%

Alien Invasion: Biology of Philornis Flies Highlighting Philornis downsi, an Introduced Parasite of Galápagos Birds

McNew

Clayton²

2018

Annu. Rev. Entomol.

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The muscid genus Philornis comprises approximately 50 described species of flies, nearly all of which are obligate parasites of nestling birds. Philornis species are native to the Neotropics and widely distributed from Florida to Argentina. Most research on this group has focused on P. downsi, which was introduced to the Galápagos Islands in the late twentieth century. Although Philornis parasitism kills nestlings in several native host species, nowhere do the effects seem more severe than in P. downsi in the Galápagos. Here, we review studies of native and introduced Philornis in an attempt to identify factors that may influence virulence and consider implications for the conservation of hosts in the Galápagos.

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Philornis sp. bot fly larvae in free living scarlet macaw nestlings and a new technique for their extraction

Cited by 10 publications

References 19 publications

Tri‐trophic ecology of native parasitic nest flies of birds inTobago

Tri‐trophic ecology of native parasitic nest flies of birds inTobago

Reproductive parameters of the Turquoise-fronted Parrot (Amazona aestiva) in the dry Chaco forest

Alien Invasion: Biology of Philornis Flies Highlighting Philornis downsi, an Introduced Parasite of Galápagos Birds

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