Birds are hosts to many parasites, internal and external. The parasites inevitably form a burden to the host bird and therefore may affect its ability to grow, survive, and reproduce; its behaviour; and the distribution and abundance of the whole species. In consequence, bird-parasite systems have attracted attention from diverse fields and the literature has been spread out in a wide range of specialized journals. The editors of Bird-Parasite Interactions have drawn together a comprehensive range of experts in the field to provide an invaluable reference of current work in bird-parasite interactions.
Bird-Parasite Interactions is divided into four parts. The introduction provides the contemporary context of research in bird-parasite systems and presents case studies which combine theoretical concepts with experimental data. Subsequent parts focus on the ecology; behavioural responses; and the effect of parasitism on sexual selection.
- Lists of associate editors and contributors
Part 1. Introduction
- Catherine A. Toft: Current theory of host-parasite interactions
Part 2. Ecology
- Carter T. Atkinson & Charles van Riper: Pathogenocity and epizootiology of avian haematozoa: plasmodium, leucocytozoan, and haemoproteus
- Peter J. Hudson & Andrew P. Dobson: The direct and indirect effects of the caecal nematode, Trichostrongylus tenuis, on red grouse
- Brian R. Chapman & John E. George: The effects of ectoparasites on cliff swallow growth and survival
- Carlos A. Delannoy & Alexander Cruz: Philornid parasitism and nestling survival of the Puerto-Rican sharp-shinned hawk
- Edward H. Burtt & G.A. Babbitt: Occurrence and demography of mites of tree swallow, house wren, and eastern bluebird nests
- Catherine Rogers, Raleigh J. Robertson, & Bridget J. Stutchbury: Patterns and effects of parasitism by protocalliphora on tree swallow nestlings
- Charles van Riper, III: Parasite communities in wet and dry forest subpopulations of the Hawaii common Amakihi
- Melinda Pruett-Jones & Stephen Pruett-Jones: Analysis and ecological correlates of tick burdens in a New Guinea avifauna
Part 3. Behaviour
- Thomas W. Scott & John D. Edman: Effects of avian host age and arbovirus infection on mosquito attraction and blood-feeding success
- Larry Clark: The nest protection hypothesis: the adaptive use of plant secondary components by European starlings
- Jenella E. Loye & Scott P. Carroll: Nest ectoparasite abundance and cliff swallow colony site selection, nestling development, and departure time
- David C. Duffy: Ants, ticks, and nesting seabirds: dynamic interaction
- Dale H. Clayton: Coevolution of avian grooming and ectoparasite avoidance
- Michelle D. Saumier, Manfred E. Rau, & David M. Bird: Behavioural changes in breeding American kestrels infected with Trichinella pseudospiralis
- Marlene Zuk: Parasites and bright birds: new data and a new prediction
- Anders Pape Moller: Parasites, sexual ornaments, and mate choice in the barn swallow
- C.E. Kirkpatrick, S.K. Robinson, & U.D. Kitron: Phenotypic correlates of blood parasitism in the common grackle
- Nancy Burley, Sonia C. Tidemann, & Karl Halupka: Bill colour and parasite levels in zebra finches
- Linda L. Johnson & Mark S. Boyce: Female choice of males with low parasite loads in sage grouse
- Margo F. Spurrier, Mark S. Boyce, & Bryan F.J. Manley: Effects of parasites on mate choice by captive sage grouse
"The editors of this book have drawn together a comprehensive range of experts in the field to provide an invaluable reference of current work in bird-parasite interactions."
– Ethology Ecology & Evolution No. 4, Vol, 3 199
"the editors have created something of a benchmark"
– Andrew F. Read, University of Oxford, TREE, vol.6, no.12, December 1991
"This is an important book for ornithologists but also for parasitologists and those who are interested in ecology and (co)evolution."
– Rob de Boer, Dutch Birding, Volume 13, No.6, 1991
"I would strongly recommend this volume to biologists in general and to ornithologists in particular. It contains a great deal of interesting information"
– Recent Ornithological Publications
"This book is significant because it consolidates information on bird-parasite relations scattered in journals not easily available, focuses the topic onto three major areas of study, and provides a conceptual base, ideas, and techniques for future research."
"The authors deserve a great deal of credit."
– The Condor