Chewing Lice in Azorean Blackcaps (Sylvia atricapilla): A Contribution to Parasite Island Syndromes

Abstract

Focusing upon chewing lice (Phthiraptera: Amblycera, Ischnocera) parasitizing blackcaps ( Sylvia atricapilla ) in the Azores (Portugal), we found a lower number of louse species in the Azores compared to mainland Europe. Only chewing lice host specific to blackcaps were found in the Azores. Louse prevalences were much higher in blackcaps from the Azores compared to those of various mainland populations. Chewing lice are permanent parasites of birds, and for such parasites the parasite island syndrome could be characterized by higher parasite prevalence on the islands compared to the mainland.

Insect ectoparasites from wild passerine birds in the Azores Islands

“…Despite the fact that this species differed from other Myrsidea species in Europe, collection of only two individuals made its status and association with S. atricapilla questionable. However, more recently Literak et al [34] found a large population of M. sylviae on S. atricapilla in the Azores. It confirms that this bird is really a natural host of this louse species.…”

“…Literak et al [34] considered that the dissimilarity in population sizes and prevalence of M. sylviae between the Azores and mainland Europe may be influenced by the migratory behaviour of its hostsresident populations of S. atricapilla on the Azores vs. migratory ones on the mainland. Other ecological factors certainly may play a role, e.g.…”

“…Despite the relatively high number of potential hosts, only 19 species of chewing lice (Phthiraptera) have been reported from the Azores [51]. These reports concern mainly marine birds, and only two species of chewing lice have been reported from passerine hosts in the Azores [34].…”

“…In this paper, we expand the knowledge of ectoparasites of passerine birds from the Archipelago of the Azores [34,35,63]. The aims of this paper are to: (1) present new data on the species distribution of insect ectoparasites found on passerine birds in the Azores; (2) include information on their parasitological parameters; and (3) redescribe Guimaraesiella tovornikae (Balát, 1981) and Myrsidea sylviae .…”

Association of insularity and body condition to cloacal bacteria prevalence in a small shorebird

“…For example, animals from islands have been proposed to have weaker immune defence, attributed to the founder effect during colonization and to island environments being relatively parasite poor (compared to the mainland) [ 3 , 11 , 12 ]. Examples of the latter include reduced prevalence and diversity of blood parasites and fewer feather lice species in Macaronesian blackcaps ( Sylvia atricapilla ) [ 13 , 14 ] and reduced viral pathogen diversity and abundance in insular black-spotted pond frogs ( Pelophylax nigromaculatus ) compared to the mainland [ 15 ]. However, contrasting results could be found for other host species and microorganisms studied [ 16 ].…”