A5086861668- Bird parasitology and diseases
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Parasite Biology and Host Interactions
- Insect symbiosis and bacterial influences
- Viral Infections and Vectors
- Physiological and biochemical adaptations
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Vector-borne infectious diseases
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Gut microbiota and health
- Amphibian and Reptile Biology
- Mycorrhizal Fungi and Plant Interactions
- Forest Insect Ecology and Management
- Forest Ecology and Biodiversity Studies
- Identification and Quantification in Food
- Immune Response and Inflammation
- Marine animal studies overview
- Evolution and Genetic Dynamics
- Human-Animal Interaction Studies
- Primate Behavior and Ecology
- Veterinary Equine Medical Research
- Insects and Parasite Interactions
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Zoonotic diseases and public health
- Effects of Environmental Stressors on Livestock
University of Connecticut
2018-2025
Rocky Mountain Research Station
2022
Iowa State University
2017-2021
Abstract Host‐associated microbiota can be affected by factors related to environmental change, such as urbanization and invasive species. For example, urban areas often affect food availability for animals, which change their gut microbiota. Invasive parasites also influence through competition or indirectly a in the host immune response. These interacting have complex effects on fitness, but few studies disentangled relationship between parasitism an organism's To address this gap...
We incubated 196 large-diameter aspen (Populus tremuloides), birch (Betula papyrifera), and pine (Pinus taeda) logs on the FACE Wood Decomposition Experiment encompassing eight climatically-distinct forest sites in United States. sampled dead wood from these after 2 to 6 y of decomposition determined rot type as a continuous variable using lignin loss/density loss ratio (L/D) assessed wood-rotting fungal guilds high-throughput amplicon sequencing (HTAS) ITS-2 marker. found L/D values line...
Human activity changes multiple factors in the environment, which can have positive or negative synergistic effects on organisms. However, few studies explored causal of anthropogenic factors, such as urbanization and invasive species, animals mechanisms that mediate these interactions. This study examines influence detrimental effect avian vampire flies (Philornis downsi) endemic Darwin's finches Galápagos Islands. We experimentally manipulated nest fly abundance urban non-urban locations...
Abstract Human activity changes multiple factors in the environment, which can have additive or neutralizing effects on organisms. However, few studies explored causal of anthropogenic factors, such as urbanization and invasive species, animals, mechanisms that mediate these interactions. This study examines influence detrimental effect avian vampire flies ( Philornis downsi ) endemic Darwin’s finches Galápagos Islands. We experimentally manipulated nest fly abundance an urban non-urban area...
Life history trade-offs have been posited to shape wild animals' immune responses against microparasites (e.g., bacteria, viruses). However, coinfection with gut helminths may bias phenotypes away from inflammatory and could be another mechanism underlying variation in responses. We examined how the magnitude of a common costly response microparasites, acute phase (APR), varied helminth at both individual population levels Song Sparrows ( Melospiza melodia). The APR includes fever sickness...
Determining how an animal's social context alters its immune responses will help us understand pathogens impact individual health and spread within groups. Several studies have shown that group-housed animals can suppress components of the acute phase response, specifically sickness behaviors like lethargy. However, we do not know whether individuals alter or other including thermoregulation, in response to infection status group members. We used automated radio telemetry on captive house...
Abstract The invasive avian vampire fly (Philornis downsi, Diptera: Muscidae) is considered one of the greatest threats to endemic avifauna Galápagos Islands. larvae parasitize nearly every passerine species, including Darwin’s finches. Most P. downsi research date has focused on effects host fitness and mitigation methods. A lag in related genetics this invasion demonstrates, part, need develop full-scale genomic resources with which address further questions within system. In study, an...
Among terrestrial ectotherms, hibernation is a common response to extreme cold temperatures and associated with reduced physiological rates, including immunity. When winter wanes increase, so too do vital rates of both ectothermic hosts their parasites. Due metabolic scaling, if parasite activity springs back faster than host immune functions then seasons transitions between warm may represent periods vulnerability for hosts. Understanding regulation at seasonal junctions first step toward...
Abstract Many terrestrial ectotherms have gone to great evolutionary lengths adapt long cold winters; some even evolved the ability tolerate freezing of most water in body. Now, however, high-elevation, and high-latitude winters are experiencing an accelerated period warming. Specialized winter adaptations that promoted fitness a seasonally frozen environment may soon be superfluous or maladaptive. We ask whether include changes immune functions, changing conditions could exert disparate...
The disruption of animals' symbiotic bacterial communities (their microbiota) has been associated with myriad factors including changes to the diet, hormone levels, and various stressors. maintenance healthy may be especially challenging for social species as their microbiotas are also affected by group membership, relationships, microbial transfer between individuals, stressors such increased competition rank maintenance. We investigated effects instability, determined number made females,...
Abstract Co-infection with microparasites (e.g., bacteria) and macroparasites helminths) is often the natural state for wild animals. Despite evidence that gut helminths can bias immune responses away from inflammatory processes, few field studies have examined role helminths, or their potential interactions internal microbial communities, play in modulating immunity free-living, birds. Here, we used anthelmintic drugs to treat Song Sparrows (Melospiza melodia) helminth infections measured...
ABSTRACT Environmental factors, such as elevated temperature, can have varying effects on hosts and their parasites, which consequences for disease outcomes. The individual direct of temperature must be disentangled to determine the net-effect in host-parasite relationships, yet few studies determined net-effects a multi-host system. To address this gap, we experimentally manipulated parasite presence nests two host species infested by parasitic blowflies ( Protocalliphora sialia ). We...
The invasive avian vampire fly ( Philornis downsi ) is considered one of the greatest threats to unique and endemic avifauna Galpagos Islands, Ecuador. parasitizes nearly every passerine species, including Darwins finches, in Galpagos. thought have been introduced from mainland Ecuador, although full pathway invasion not yet known. majority research date has focused on effects fitness hosts explorations mitigation methods. A lag related genetics this demonstrates, part, a need develop...
Host-associated microbiota can be affected by factors related to environmental change, such as urbanization and invasive species. For example, urban areas often affect food availability for animals, which change their gut microbiota. Invasive parasites also influence through either competition or indirectly a in the host immune response. These interacting have complex effects on fitness, but few studies disentangled relationship between parasitism an organism’s microbial composition. To...