Effects of urbanisation on disease prevalence and age structure in blackbird Turdus merula populations

Evans, Karl L. and Gaston, Kevin J. and Sharp, Stuart P. and McGowan, Andrew and Simeoni, Michelle and Hatchwell, Ben J. (2009) Effects of urbanisation on disease prevalence and age structure in blackbird Turdus merula populations. Oikos, 118 (5). pp. 774-782. ISSN 0030-1299

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Abstract

Despite increasing interest in urban ecology most attention has focussed on describing changes in assemblage composition and structure along urbanisation gradients, whilst relatively little research has focussed on the mechanisms behind these changes. Ecological theory predicts that alterations in biotic interactions are particularly likely to arise, especially with regard to disease risk. Here, we report on differences in prevalence of avian malaria and tick infection and intensity in 11 paired urban and rural blackbird Turdus merula populations from across the western Palearctic. We find large and consistent reductions in tick prevalence and intensity in urban areas. There are also large reductions in the prevalence of avian malaria in many, but not all, urban areas. The proportion of first year birds in urban populations is significantly lower than that in rural ones, and across the more natural rural sites southerly populations contain fewer first years than northern ones. These patterns are expected to arise if survival rates are higher in urban areas, and are negatively correlated with latitude.

Item Type:
Journal Article
Journal or Publication Title:
Oikos
Uncontrolled Keywords:
/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/1100/1105
Subjects:
?? european blackbirdshaematozoan parasitescomparative demographyinfectious-diseasescommunity structureixodes-ricinusnew-world populationslyme-diseasethrushes turdusavian blood parasitesecology, evolution, behavior and systematics ??
ID Code:
63240
Deposited By:
Deposited On:
05 Apr 2013 09:28
Refereed?:
Yes
Published?:
Published
Last Modified:
15 Jul 2024 13:43