Prevalence of blood parasites in different local populations of reed warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) and great reed warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) (original) (raw)

Abstract

Blood parasite prevalence in two related warbler species (Acrocephalus arundinaceus and A. scirpaceus) was studied at three Bulgarian sites that differed mainly in altitude and weather. The prevalence of Haemoproteus, the most common parasite genus, was significantly lower at the highest altitude site (730 m above sea level, asl). Such a pattern was not found in ectoparasite-transmitted Hepatozoon. This can be explained with worsening conditions for the development of free-flying vectors with altitude and suggests loosening of the host-parasite conflict at higher breeding sites. The total heamatozoan prevalence was significantly higher in great reed warbler, compared with reed warbler especially as regards Haemoproteus parasites.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Dr. Pavel Zehtinzhiev, Michaela Ilieva, and Dimitar Ragyov for their assistance at the Nova Cherna station. Tim Janicke was very helpful in the manuscript preparation. All birds were captured with a mandate from the respective ringing station in accordance with the current law in Bulgaria.

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Authors and Affiliations

1. Institute of Zoology, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, Tsar Osvoboditel 1, 1000, Sofia, Bulgaria
   Peter Shurulinkov
2. Polar and Bird Ecology Group, Institute of Ecology, Friedrich-Schiller University Jena, Dornburger Str. 159, 07743, Jena, Germany
   Nayden Chakarov

Authors

1. Peter Shurulinkov
2. Nayden Chakarov

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Correspondence toPeter Shurulinkov.

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Shurulinkov, P., Chakarov, N. Prevalence of blood parasites in different local populations of reed warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) and great reed warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus).Parasitol Res 99, 588–592 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-006-0202-3

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• Received: 02 December 2005
• Accepted: 31 March 2006
• Published: 03 May 2006
• Issue date: October 2006
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00436-006-0202-3

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