Meeting Abstract

3.4  Sunday, Jan. 4 08:45  Sources of variation in blood parasite infection and its impact on immune function and flight performance in yellow-rumped warblers (Setophaga coronata) ROONEY, L.A.*; GUGLIELMO, C.G.; SHRINER, S.A.; WESTERN UNIVERSITY, LONDON, ON; WESTERN UNIVERSITY, LONDON, ON; NATIONAL WILDLIFE RESEARCH CENTER, FORT COLLINS, CO lrooney3@uwo.ca

Endurance flight during migration and immune system functioning are energetically costly activities for birds. Since nutritional resources are limited, there may be a trade-off between migration and immune system functioning. Avian blood parasites consume host resources, which may further decrease a bird’s resource pool to the point where endurance flight and immune system functioning may not be possible simultaneously. Here, I examine and compare naturally occurring levels of blood parasite infection in a migrating songbird population by microscopy and molecular methods. The prevalence and intensity of infection is compared to measures of immune defense (plasma haptoglobin and IgY), and the impact of infection intensity on endurance flight performance in a wind tunnel is assessed. Studying host-parasite interactions within the context of migration will help to improve knowledge of the potential of birds to spread disease over large geographic distances.