Birds, as habitats - the hidden world of avian ectoparasites

/guiding material/

Life in the water...

life in terrestrial systems…

life in the air...

AND life on / in other animals!

feather lice

Biodiversity of parasites

endoparasites: viruses, bacteria, unicellular organisms, worms, etc…

tapeworms and nematods

unicellulars (Plasmodium, tha causative agent of malaria)

5-10 % of animal species are considered parasites. If we involve herbivorous species and parasitoids as parasites their rate increases up to 30-50 %.

Many of them can induce serious diseases.

ectoparasites

ticks

feather licemites

fleas

bat flies

Many of them can transfer serious diseases.

Animals usually have:

habitat

prey

predator

Sand Lizard as an example

for parasites, host individuals means all of these

habitat and food

predator

preening

Arms race between hosts and parasites

Hosts are motivated in avoiding or reducing infestation.

preening and scratching

bathing and dusting

sunbathing

an oxpecker is searching for ticks

mates can reach unreachable bodyparts

Sometimes others can help:

anting: ants hint the feathers with formic acid which is toxic for parasites

Parasites have to avoid host defences and colonise new host individuals.

Lice can attach to hippoboscid flies to reach new hosts more easily.

A louse hiding in the hollows of a feather to avoid preening.