Nest secondary plants and their associations with haemosporidian blood parasites in blue tit females
Avian nests often contain aromatic plant fragments, which has led to propose among others that they repel ectoparasites or vectors of blood parasites (‘nest protection hypothesis’). To date, the relationship between secondary plant provisioning and the parent's blood parasites remains unexplore...
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| author | Jorge García-Campa Sonia González-Braojos Judith Morales |
| author_facet | Jorge García-Campa Sonia González-Braojos Judith Morales |
| author_sort | Jorge García-Campa |
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| description | Avian nests often contain aromatic plant fragments, which has led to propose among others that they repel ectoparasites or vectors of blood parasites (‘nest protection hypothesis’). To date, the relationship between secondary plant provisioning and the parent's blood parasites remains unexplored. We investigated whether the presence of secondary plants in nests during different reproductive stages (before incubation, during incubation and nestling period) was associated with the presence of nest-dwelling ectoparasites and females’ blood-parasite infections in blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) during chick rearing. In this species, females are highly exposed to parasites, particularly at the beginning of the breeding season, since they build the nest and incubate alone. They also brood the nestlings while the male assists with provisioning. We found that females that provided fewer plants before incubation were more likely to be infected by Plasmodium. Specifically, Females that did not provide Achillea herbs before incubation were more likely to be infected by both Plasmodium and Haemoproteus, reinforcing the ‘nest protection’ hypothesis. Thus, secondary plants may create an early environment that masks the odour of hosts or repels vectors. Surprisingly, the presence of Lavandula during the nestling period was positively related to Leucocytozoon infection. Given its fastest development among haemosporidians, we speculate that Lavandula herbs are provided by females to reduce mother-to-offspring transmission or as a self-medication strategy. Finally, the number of plant fragments provided before incubation was negatively associated with the number of (Protocalliphora azurea) larvae, whereas there were no associations with the presence of mites (Dermanyssus gallinoides). |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bfd29f41d5464d608d7c20302fc920d1 |
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| issn | 0031-1820 1469-8161 |
| language | English |
| publisher | Cambridge University Press |
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| series | Parasitology |
| spelling | doaj-art-bfd29f41d5464d608d7c20302fc920d12025-08-20T02:14:49ZengCambridge University PressParasitology0031-18201469-816111110.1017/S0031182024000775Nest secondary plants and their associations with haemosporidian blood parasites in blue tit femalesJorge García-Campa0https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3551-3987Sonia González-Braojos1Judith Morales2Department of Evolutionary Ecology, National Museum of Natural Sciences – Spanish National Research Council (CSIC). c/ José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain CIBIO-InBIO, Universidade do Porto, Campus de Vairão, Rua Padre Armando Quintas, 4485-661 Vairão, PortugalDepartment of Evolutionary Ecology, National Museum of Natural Sciences – Spanish National Research Council (CSIC). c/ José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain Instituto de Salud Carlos III. Carretera de Majadahonda – Pozuelo, Km. 2.200, 28220, Majadahonda, (Madrid), SpainDepartment of Evolutionary Ecology, National Museum of Natural Sciences – Spanish National Research Council (CSIC). c/ José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, SpainAvian nests often contain aromatic plant fragments, which has led to propose among others that they repel ectoparasites or vectors of blood parasites (‘nest protection hypothesis’). To date, the relationship between secondary plant provisioning and the parent's blood parasites remains unexplored. We investigated whether the presence of secondary plants in nests during different reproductive stages (before incubation, during incubation and nestling period) was associated with the presence of nest-dwelling ectoparasites and females’ blood-parasite infections in blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) during chick rearing. In this species, females are highly exposed to parasites, particularly at the beginning of the breeding season, since they build the nest and incubate alone. They also brood the nestlings while the male assists with provisioning. We found that females that provided fewer plants before incubation were more likely to be infected by Plasmodium. Specifically, Females that did not provide Achillea herbs before incubation were more likely to be infected by both Plasmodium and Haemoproteus, reinforcing the ‘nest protection’ hypothesis. Thus, secondary plants may create an early environment that masks the odour of hosts or repels vectors. Surprisingly, the presence of Lavandula during the nestling period was positively related to Leucocytozoon infection. Given its fastest development among haemosporidians, we speculate that Lavandula herbs are provided by females to reduce mother-to-offspring transmission or as a self-medication strategy. Finally, the number of plant fragments provided before incubation was negatively associated with the number of (Protocalliphora azurea) larvae, whereas there were no associations with the presence of mites (Dermanyssus gallinoides).https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0031182024000775/type/journal_articlearomatic plantsavian malariagreen plantsHaemoproteusHaemosporidian blood parasitesLeucocytozoonnesting behaviournest protectionPlasmodiumsecondary plants |
| spellingShingle | Jorge García-Campa Sonia González-Braojos Judith Morales Nest secondary plants and their associations with haemosporidian blood parasites in blue tit females Parasitology aromatic plants avian malaria green plants Haemoproteus Haemosporidian blood parasites Leucocytozoon nesting behaviour nest protection Plasmodium secondary plants |
| title | Nest secondary plants and their associations with haemosporidian blood parasites in blue tit females |
| title_full | Nest secondary plants and their associations with haemosporidian blood parasites in blue tit females |
| title_fullStr | Nest secondary plants and their associations with haemosporidian blood parasites in blue tit females |
| title_full_unstemmed | Nest secondary plants and their associations with haemosporidian blood parasites in blue tit females |
| title_short | Nest secondary plants and their associations with haemosporidian blood parasites in blue tit females |
| title_sort | nest secondary plants and their associations with haemosporidian blood parasites in blue tit females |
| topic | aromatic plants avian malaria green plants Haemoproteus Haemosporidian blood parasites Leucocytozoon nesting behaviour nest protection Plasmodium secondary plants |
| url | https://www.cambridge.org/core/product/identifier/S0031182024000775/type/journal_article |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jorgegarciacampa nestsecondaryplantsandtheirassociationswithhaemosporidianbloodparasitesinbluetitfemales AT soniagonzalezbraojos nestsecondaryplantsandtheirassociationswithhaemosporidianbloodparasitesinbluetitfemales AT judithmorales nestsecondaryplantsandtheirassociationswithhaemosporidianbloodparasitesinbluetitfemales |