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Parasite infestation and predation in Darwin's small ground finch: contrasting two elevational habitats between islands

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 March 2010

Jody A. O'Connor ,
Rachael Y. Dudaniec  and
Sonia Kleindorfer
Jody A. O'Connor
Affiliation:
School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, SA 5001, [email protected]
Rachael Y. Dudaniec
Affiliation:
Department of Forest Sciences, 3041-2424 Main Mall, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada, V6T [email protected]
Sonia Kleindorfer*
Affiliation:
School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, SA 5001, [email protected]
*
1Corresponding author. Email: [email protected]
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Abstract:

Contrasting ecological conditions may affect the distribution, abundance and impact of parasites and predators throughout the ranges of hosts and prey. Such patterns are evident on the archipelagos of Hawaii and the Galapagos, which vary in their distribution and abundance of avian parasites within and across islands. Previous research has documented higher intensity of parasitic fly larvae (Philornis downsi) in nests of Darwin's finches on elevated islands of the Galapagos. Here we examine P. downsi intensity and predation in 71 nests of Darwin's small ground finch (Geospiza fuliginosa) on Floreana Island. We found significant differences in parasite intensity, nest predation and clutch size between the lowland (0–100 m) and highland (300–400 m) habitats. Lowland finch nests had few P. downsi parasites (mean of 8 per nest), high nest predation (44% of nests) and large clutch size (3.4). Highland finch nests showed the opposite pattern, with many P. downsi parasites (40 per nest), low nest predation (17%) and small clutch size (2.5). This study suggests that the impacts of an introduced parasite are limited by its niche requirements and resource availability within and across islands. Our findings also imply that the vulnerability of bird populations to introduced parasites and predators is linked with variation in life history strategies across habitats.

Keywords

clutch sizeDarwin's fincheselevationGalapagos IslandsGeospiza fuliginosaMuscidaeparasitismPhilornis downsipredation
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 26 , Issue 3 , May 2010 , pp. 285 - 292
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2010

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