HAEMOSPORIDIANS AS POTENTIAL SOURCES OF GEOGRAPHIC MARKERS FOR IRRUPTIVE BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES

Area of Science:

• Ornithology
• Parasitology
• Ecology

Background:

• Migratory birds transport parasites, offering clues to their geographic origins.
• Avian parasites, especially haemosporidians, are underutilized for host tracking due to transmission uncertainties.
• Black-capped chickadees exhibit irruptive movements, wintering in new regions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess if haemosporidian lineages can identify irruptive black-capped chickadees.
• To estimate the breeding origins of these non-resident birds.
• To compare parasite communities between migratory and resident chickadees.

Main Methods:

• Compared haemosporidian prevalence and lineage diversity in irruptive black-capped, resident Carolina, and hybrid chickadees.
• Utilized genetic and phenotypic identification of irruptive individuals.
• Analyzed Plasmodium lineage BT7 in relation to host migratory behavior.

Main Results:

• Irruptive chickadees showed higher haemosporidian infection rates.
• A unique Plasmodium lineage (BT7) was exclusively found in irruptive birds.
• Lineage BT7 is unlikely to be transmitted locally, indicating a non-resident origin.

Conclusions:

• Haemosporidian lineage BT7 can serve as a marker for identifying non-resident black-capped chickadees.
• This finding aids in understanding population composition and migratory strategies.
• Parasite communities offer valuable insights into avian migratory patterns.