Haemosporidian Infection Risk Variation Across an Urban Gradient in a Songbird

TL;DR

Urbanization reduces infection risk from host-specialist parasites in songbirds, while generalist parasites are more affected by rainfall and local habitat factors.

Contribution

This study links urban land use changes to shifts in avian parasite communities, highlighting the role of host specialization and environmental factors.

Findings

Fewer Haemoproteus infections were found in urban habitats, indicating homogenization of host-specialist parasites.

Plasmodium infections increased with rainfall and were influenced by local biotic factors like human presence.

Culex tarsalis vector abundance increased with rainfall, potentially affecting disease transmission.

Abstract

Urbanization is a significant source of inter‐ and intra‐city environmental variation and is associated with declining avian population sizes, with a shift towards more homogeneous communities that consist of large populations of the same species. However, whether this shift extends to urban disease ecology and related parasite communities requires further examination. By comparing the diversity of two related parasite genera (largely host‐generalist Plasmodium and largely host‐specialist Haemoproteus) and infection status of dark‐eyed juncos (
Junco hyemalis
) across an urbanization gradient in California, we can determine how broad urban‐associated land use changes and localized habitat composition correlate with pathogen communities. Additionally, by examining vector abundance responses, we can begin to assess broader impacts on urban disease transmission and ecology. We report fewer birds were infected with Haemoproteus in urban habitats, with a larger presence of host‐generalist lineages, suggesting urbanization increases homogenization of host‐specialist pathogens. Unsurprisingly, the largely host‐generalist pathogen, Plasmodium, showed no correlation with urbanization, but infections increased with rainfall. Local habitat characteristics had limited effects on Plasmodium infection status, but biotic characteristics, including wing chord length and human presence, were associated with Plasmodium infections. Lastly,
Culex tarsalis, an important vector for Plasmodium and zoonotic pathogens, was the only vector to also increase in abundance in response to rainfall. Our results show that broad land use changes associated with urbanization decrease avian parasite biodiversity and highlight localized abiotic and biotic habitat characteristics that may reduce infection prevalence.

Avian haemosporidian community composition of a songbird was assessed across an urbanization gradient. Broad urban‐associated land use changes corresponded with reduced host‐specialist parasites and reduced prevalence of avian parasites. Select local habitat characteristics and vector abundance may present additional risks for infection prevalence.

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