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Evaluation of two methods for quantifying passeriform lice.

Jennifer A H Koop1, Dale H Clayton

  • 1Department of Biology, University of Utah, 257 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA ; Current address: University of Arizona, Ecology and Evolutionary Biology P.O. Box 210088, Tucson, Arizona 85721.

Journal of Field Ornithology
|September 17, 2013
PubMed
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This summary is machine-generated.

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Visual examination and dust-ruffling methods reliably quantify lice abundance on small birds like European Starlings. These methods, though accounting for a small proportion of total lice, significantly predict overall parasite load.

Area of Science:

  • Ornithology
  • Ectoparasite Research
  • Wildlife Biology

Background:

  • Visual examination and dust-ruffling are common methods for quantifying bird ectoparasites.
  • Previous accuracy assessments were limited to large-bodied Rock Pigeons.
  • The efficacy on smaller passerine species remained largely untested.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the accuracy of visual examination and dust-ruffling for quantifying lice on European Starlings.
  • To compare the effectiveness of these methods on a small-bodied passerine species.
  • To determine if these methods are reliable predictors of total louse abundance.

Main Methods:

  • European Starlings were assessed using visual examination for lice.
  • Immediately following, the dust-ruffling method was applied to the same birds.
Keywords:
BrueeliaEuropean StarlingPhthirapteraSturnus vulgarisfeather liceparasitepyrethrin

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  • Total lice counts were determined using a body-washing method after euthanasia for comparison.

    • Main Results:

    • Visual examination accounted for 14% of total lice; dust-ruffling accounted for 16%.
    • Both methods were significant predictors of total louse abundance.
    • Visual examination explained 68% of the variation in total abundance; dust-ruffling explained 72%.

    Conclusions:

    • Visual examination and dust-ruffling are reliable methods for quantifying lice on European Starlings.
    • These methods can be effectively applied to similar-sized passerine birds.
    • Despite low recovery proportions, both methods provide significant predictive value for ectoparasite abundance.