La Tour du Valat

Institut de recherche pour la conservation des zones humides méditerranéennes

Titre :	Experimental reduction of a nest ectoparasite affects mouth coloration of nestling Cliff Swallows Petrochelidon pyrrhonota (2022)
Auteurs :	Matthew B. Dugas, Auteur ; Shana E. Border, Auteur
Type de document :	Article
Dans :	Journal of Ornithology (163(2) April, 2022)
Article en page(s) :	553-563
Langues:	Anglais
Résumé :	Traits used by dependent young to obtain parental care are often interpreted in the context of offspring–parent communication, with offspring traits offering parents some information about the current condition and future prospects of their young. We tested the hypothesis that offspring traits contain information using an experimental manipulation of the hematophagous swallow bug Oeciacus vicarius, an important ectoparasite in the nests of Cliff Swallows. Although we, contrary to our expectations, found little evidence that the parasite manipulation influenced common condition proxies (body mass, tarsus, hematocrit), we did find evidence that both carotenoid-based and likely structural components of nestling mouth coloration were associated with ectoparasite density. These experimental results demonstrate that mouth color is sensitive to the effects of ectoparasites, and thus contains information about offspring that is of potential value to parents.
En ligne :	https://doi.org/10.1007/s10336-021-01951-4

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