TY - JOUR

T1 - Effects of urbanisation on disease prevalence and age structure in blackbird Turdus merula populations

AU - Evans, Karl L.

AU - Gaston, Kevin J.

AU - Sharp, Stuart P.

AU - McGowan, Andrew

AU - Simeoni, Michelle

AU - Hatchwell, Ben J.

PY - 2009/5

Y1 - 2009/5

N2 - 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.

AB - 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.

KW - EUROPEAN BLACKBIRDS

KW - HAEMATOZOAN PARASITES

KW - COMPARATIVE DEMOGRAPHY

KW - INFECTIOUS-DISEASES

KW - COMMUNITY STRUCTURE

KW - IXODES-RICINUS

KW - NEW-WORLD POPULATIONS

KW - LYME-DISEASE

KW - THRUSHES TURDUS

KW - AVIAN BLOOD PARASITES

U2 - 10.1111/j.1600-0706.2008.17226.x

DO - 10.1111/j.1600-0706.2008.17226.x

M3 - Journal article

VL - 118

SP - 774

EP - 782

JO - Oikos

JF - Oikos

SN - 0030-1299

IS - 5

ER -