Variation of uropygial gland volume and malaria infection between urban-rural environment in the house sparrow

Argany, Sergio Magallanes; García‐Longoria, Luz; Muriel, Jaime; Lope, Florentino de; Marzal, Alfonso

doi:10.7818/ecos.1977

Cited by 4 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…Finally, it has been shown that individuals in better conditions exhibit faster feather growth [ 41 , 103 ]. Because birds with better body conditions normally produce larger uropygial glands [ 45 , 70 , 116 , 117 ], a positive relationship between uropygial gland size and feather growth rate could be predicted. However, we did not observe any relationship between the feather growth rate and the size of the uropygial gland.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Impact of Avian Haemosporidian Infection on Feather Quality and Feather Growth Rate of Migratory Passerines

Mora-Rubio,

Garcia-Longoria,

Ferraguti

et al. 2024

Animals

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Bird feathers have several functions, including flight, insulation, communication, and camouflage. Since feathers degrade over time, birds need to moult regularly to maintain these functions. However, environmental factors like food scarcity, stress, and parasite infections can affect feather quality and moult speed. This study examined the impact of avian haemosporidian infection and uropygial gland volume, as well as feather quality and feather growth rate in two migratory hirundine species captured in southwestern Spain—the house martin (Delichon urbicum) and sand martin (Riparia riparia). Our findings showed that the prevalence of infection varied among species, with house martins having the highest rates, possibly due to their larger colony size. Moreover, haemosporidian infection had a different impact on each species; infected house martins exhibited lower feather quality than healthy individuals, although this outcome was not observed in sand martins. Furthermore, no effect of infection on feather growth rate was observed in both hirundinids. Additionally, feather growth rate only correlated positively with feather quality in house martins. Finally, no link was observed between uropygial gland volume and feather quality or feather growth rate in any of the species in this study. These findings highlight the effect of haemosporidian infections on the plumage of migratory birds, marking, for the first time, how avian haemosporidian infection is shown to adversely impact feather quality. Even so, further research is needed to explore these relationships more deeply.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Impact of Avian Haemosporidian Infection on Feather Quality and Feather Growth Rate of Migratory Passerines

Mora-Rubio,

Garcia-Longoria,

Ferraguti

et al. 2024

Animals

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“…Similarly, the uropygial secretions of nestling hoopoes also include bacterial symbionts that produce antimicrobials [ 136 , 137 , 138 ] and repellents for mosquitoes and biting midges [ 113 ]. Associations between characteristics of the uropygial gland and the risk of parasitism [ 139 , 140 , 141 ], as well as symbiotic bacteria living in the uropygial gland [ 17 , 142 , 143 , 144 ], are now described in phylogenetically distant bird species. Thus, the beneficial effects of uropygial secretions for birds may be mediated by microbial symbionts.…”

Section: Beneficial Effects Of the Microbiome In Relation To Parasitism And Predationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microbially Mediated Chemical Ecology of Animals: A Review of Its Role in Conspecific Communication, Parasitism and Predation

Mazorra-Alonso

Tomás

Soler

2021

Biology

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Microbial symbionts are nowadays considered of pivotal importance for animal life. Among the many processes where microorganisms are involved, an emerging research avenue focuses on their major role in driving the evolution of chemical communication in their hosts. Volatiles of bacterial origin may underlie chemical communication and the transfer of social information through signals, as well as inadvertent social information. We reviewed the role of microorganisms in animal communication between conspecifics, and, because the microbiome may cause beneficial as well as deleterious effects on their animal hosts, we also reviewed its role in determining the outcome of the interactions with parasites and predators. Finally, we paid special attention to the hypothetical role of predation and parasitism in driving the evolution of the animal microbiome. We highlighted the novelty of the theoretical framework derived from considering the microbiota of animals in scenarios of communication, parasitism, and predation. We aimed to encourage research in these areas, suggesting key predictions that need to be tested to better understand what is one of the main roles of bacteria in animal biology.

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“…No obstante, otros factores ambientales también jugarían un papel primordial para los patrones de infección en las aves en términos, por ejemplo, de prevalencia, riqueza y diversidad de parásitos, lo que favorece la necesidad de desarrollar estudios de la ecología de transmisión de parásitos en diversos ecosistemas como los abordados aquí, desde latitudes extremas del planeta (Cuevas et al 2020), a ambientes insulares de Macaronesia (Illera y Perera 2020) o zonas áridas como el desierto de Tabernas en Almería (Veiga y Valera 2020). Estos estudios también deben considerar los escenarios de cambio global, incluyendo aspectos tratados en este volumen como son los procesos de urbanización (Magallanes et al 2020) y cambio climático (García del Río et al 2020), que podrían alterar estas complejas interacciones entre aves, vectores y patógenos, afectando su dinámica de transmisión en ecosistemas naturales (Møller 2010;Garamszegi 2011;Møller et al 2013).…”

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Ecología de transmisión de enfermedades: interacciones entre aves, parásitos sanguíneos y vectores

Puente

Ferraguti

2020

ECOS

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Variation of uropygial gland volume and malaria infection between urban-rural environment in the house sparrow

Abstract: Autores. Editado por la AEET. [Ecosistemas no se hace responsable del uso indebido de material sujeto a derecho de autor] El volumen de la glándula uropigial y la infección por malaria varía entre hábitats urbano-rural en el gorrión común

Cited by 4 publications

References 51 publications

The Impact of Avian Haemosporidian Infection on Feather Quality and Feather Growth Rate of Migratory Passerines

The Impact of Avian Haemosporidian Infection on Feather Quality and Feather Growth Rate of Migratory Passerines

Microbially Mediated Chemical Ecology of Animals: A Review of Its Role in Conspecific Communication, Parasitism and Predation

Ecología de transmisión de enfermedades: interacciones entre aves, parásitos sanguíneos y vectores

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