scholarly journals Attraction of Culex pipiens to House Sparrows Is Influenced by Host Age but Not Uropygial Gland Secretions

Insects ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Garvin ◽  
Amy Austin ◽  
Kevin Boyer ◽  
Madeleine Gefke ◽  
Celestina Wright ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Culex Pipiens ◽  
Passer Domesticus ◽  
Feeding Preference ◽  
Reservoir Host ◽  
Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Uropygial Gland ◽  
House Sparrows ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Chemical Profiles ◽  
Specific Variation

Culex pipiens serves as the endemic vector of West Nile virus (WNV) in eastern North America, where house sparrows (HOSP, Passer domesticus) serve as a reservoir host. We tested the hypotheses that: (1) Attraction of Cx. pipiens to HOSP is influenced by bird age and (2) that age-specific variation in chemical profiles of bird uropygial gland secretions informs this choice. We conducted mosquito choice trials in an olfactometer and found that Cx. pipiens were more often attracted to adult sparrows over nestlings, however, they demonstrated no preference for adults over fledglings. Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry we observed age-specific differences in the semi-volatile chemical profiles of house sparrow uropygial gland secretions. Contrary to our hypothesis, we found no significant difference in mosquito feeding preference between the secretions of adults and those of either nestlings or fledglings. We suggest that other chemical cues influence the feeding preference of Cx. pipiens, either independently of uropygial gland secretions, or synergistically with them.

scholarly journals Uropygial gland and bib colouration in the house sparrow

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregorio Moreno-Rueda
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Passer Domesticus ◽  
Uropygial Gland ◽  
Short Term ◽  
House Sparrows ◽  
Gland Size ◽  
Plumage Colouration ◽  
Preen Oil ◽  
Male House

Birds frequently signal different qualities by plumage colouration, mainly during mating. However, plumage colouration is determined during the moult, and therefore it would indicate the quality of individual birds during the moult, not its current quality. Recent studies, however, suggest that birds could modify plumage colouration by using cosmetic preen oil. In this study, I show that bib colouration is related to uropygial gland size and body condition in male house sparrows (Passer domesticus). Moreover, I conducted an experiment in which a group of sparrows were inoculated with an antigen, mimicking an illness. In control birds, short-term changes in bib colouration were related to both body condition and change in uropygial gland size. Therefore, birds that spent more preen oil (thus, reducing uropygial gland size), showed a greater colouration change. However, bib colouration did not change with use of preen oil in experimental birds inoculated with the antigen. That is, the simulated illness cancelled the effect of preen oil on bib colouration. Given that the experiment did not affect preen oil production, this finding suggests that the immune challenge provoked a change in the composition of preen oil, affecting its cosmetic properties. In short, the results of this study suggest that (1) male house sparrows produce cosmetic preen oil that alters the colouration of their bibs; (2) the more effort in preening, the more change in bib colouration; and (3) in this way, bib colouration has the potential to signal current health status, since less healthy birds showed less capacity to change bib colouration.

Seasonality in the uropygial gland size and feather mite abundance in house sparrows Passer domesticus: natural covariation and an experiment

2010 ◽  
Vol 41 (6) ◽  
pp. 653-661 ◽  
Author(s):  
Péter L. Pap ◽  
Csongor I. Vágási ◽  
Gergely Osváth ◽  
Cosmin Mureşan ◽  
Zoltán Barta
Keyword(s):  
Passer Domesticus ◽  
Uropygial Gland ◽  
House Sparrows ◽  
Feather Mite ◽  
Gland Size

scholarly journals Mites Macronyssidae Parasites of Passer domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Passeriformes: Passeridae) in the Southern of Brazil

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Luciana Siqueira Silveira dos Santos ◽  
Carolina Silveira Mascarenhas ◽  
Paulo Roberto Silveira dos Santos ◽  
Nara Amélia da Rosa Farias
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass ◽  
Species Abundance ◽  
Passer Domesticus ◽  
The Body ◽  
House Sparrows ◽  
Mean Intensity ◽  
Total Length ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Mite Collection ◽  
Parasitic Mites

The aim of this study was to report the species of haematophagous parasitic mites of Passer domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758) and analyze the infestation rates regarding to gender, body mass, and total length of the hosts. To do so, each of the 100 house sparrows captured in the urban area of Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil, was identified by gender, weighed, and measured. The mite collection was carried out after applying an ectoparasite-repelling talc in the body of the birds. Pellonyssus reedi was found in 29 house sparrows with mean intensity of 8.37 mites/host and Ornithonyssus bursa was found in two birds, only one male host showing co-infestation. The prevalence and mean intensity of P. reedi between male and female adults did not show significant difference, nor was there any correlation among species abundance, body mass, and total length of the house sparrows. We report the occurrence of P. reedi and O. bursa parasitizing P. domesticus in the southern of Brazil.

scholarly journals Rhinonyssidae (Acari) in the house sparrows, Passer domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758) (Passeriformes: Passeridae), from southern Brazil

2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 597-603 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luciana Siqueira Silveira dos Santos ◽  
Carolina Silveira Mascarenhas ◽  
Paulo Roberto Silveira dos Santos ◽  
Nara Amélia da Rosa Farias
Keyword(s):  
House Sparrow ◽  
Passer Domesticus ◽  
Rio Grande ◽  
Southern Brazil ◽  
Rio Grande Do Sul ◽  
House Sparrows ◽  
Mean Intensity ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Infection Parameters ◽  
The City

Abstract We report the occurrence and infection parameters of two species of nasal mites in Passer domesticus (Linnaeus, 1758) (house sparrow). Nasal passages, trachea, lungs, and air sacs of 100 house sparrows captured in an urban area at the city of Pelotas, State of Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil, were examined with a stereomicroscope. The mite, Sternostoma tracheacolum Lawrence, 1948 was present in the trachea and/or lungs (or both) of 13 birds (13%) at a mean intensity of 6.7 mites/infected host. Ptilonyssus hirsti (Castro & Pereira, 1947) was found in the nasal cavity of 1 sparrow (1%); coinfection was not observed in this bird. There was no significant difference in the prevalence and mean intensity of infection of S. tracheacolum between male and female birds. To our knowledge, this is the first study reporting the occurrence of S. tracheacolum in P. domesticus in Brazil and the presence of P. hirsti in P. domesticus from Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. This is the first survey to provide the infection parameters of each of these mites in house sparrows.

scholarly journals Uropygial gland and bib colouration in the house sparrow

PeerJ ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. e2102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregorio Moreno-Rueda
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Passer Domesticus ◽  
Uropygial Gland ◽  
Short Term ◽  
House Sparrows ◽  
Gland Size ◽  
Plumage Colouration ◽  
Preen Oil ◽  
Male House

Birds frequently signal different qualities by plumage colouration, mainly during mating. However, plumage colouration is determined during the moult, and therefore it would indicate the quality of individual birds during the moult, not its current quality. Recent studies, however, suggest that birds could modify plumage colouration by using cosmetic preen oil produced by the uropygial gland. In this study, I show that bib colouration is related to uropygial gland size and body condition in male house sparrows (Passer domesticus). Moreover, I conducted an experiment in which a group of sparrows were inoculated with an antigen, mimicking an illness. In control birds, short-term changes in bib colouration were related to both body condition and change in uropygial gland size. Therefore, birds that reduced uropygial gland size showed a greater colouration change. However, bib colouration did not change with the change in uropygial gland size in experimental birds inoculated with the antigen. Given that the experiment did not affect preen oil production or consumption, this finding tentatively suggests that the immune challenge provoked a change in the composition of preen oil, affecting its cosmetic properties. In short, the results of this study suggest that (1) male house sparrows produce cosmetic preen oil that alters the colouration of their bibs; (2) the more change in uropygial gland size, the more change in bib colouration; and (3) in this way, bib colouration has the potential to signal current health status, since less healthy birds showed less capacity to change bib colouration.

scholarly journals Uropygial gland and bib colouration in the house sparrow

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregorio Moreno-Rueda
Keyword(s):  
Body Condition ◽  
Passer Domesticus ◽  
Uropygial Gland ◽  
Short Term ◽  
House Sparrows ◽  
Gland Size ◽  
Plumage Colouration ◽  
Preen Oil ◽  
Male House

Birds frequently signal different qualities by plumage colouration, mainly during mating. However, plumage colouration is determined during the moult, and therefore it would indicate the quality of individual birds during the moult, not its current quality. Recent studies, however, suggest that birds could modify plumage colouration by using cosmetic preen oil. In this study, I show that bib colouration is related to uropygial gland size and body condition in male house sparrows (Passer domesticus). Moreover, I conducted an experiment in which a group of sparrows were inoculated with an antigen, mimicking an illness. In control birds, short-term changes in bib colouration were related to both body condition and change in uropygial gland size. Therefore, birds that spent more preen oil (thus, reducing uropygial gland size), showed a greater colouration change. However, bib colouration did not change with use of preen oil in experimental birds inoculated with the antigen. That is, the simulated illness cancelled the effect of preen oil on bib colouration. Given that the experiment did not affect preen oil production, this finding suggests that the immune challenge provoked a change in the composition of preen oil, affecting its cosmetic properties. In short, the results of this study suggest that (1) male house sparrows produce cosmetic preen oil that alters the colouration of their bibs; (2) the more effort in preening, the more change in bib colouration; and (3) in this way, bib colouration has the potential to signal current health status, since less healthy birds showed less capacity to change bib colouration.

scholarly journals Differences in New Zealand Hop Cultivars Based on Their Unique Volatile Compounds: An Integrated Fingerprinting and Chemometrics Approach

Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 414
Author(s):  
Victoria Purdy ◽  
Biniam Kebede ◽  
Ron Beatson ◽  
Kerry Templeton ◽  
Patrick Silcock ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Volatile Compounds ◽  
Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Headspace Gas Chromatography ◽  
Commercial Cultivars ◽  
Headspace Gas ◽  
Chemical Fingerprinting ◽  
Chemical Profiles ◽  
Aroma Characteristics ◽  
Feature Selection Techniques

Hop aroma characteristics originate from hop essential oils, which have complex chemical profiles that remain poorly understood, particularly for New Zealand hops. The aim of this study was to determine volatile compounds that distinguish New Zealand hop cultivars. Untargeted fingerprinting methods based on headspace gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were used to analyse nine hop cultivars. A total of 61 volatile compounds were identified as compounds that differentiated the commercial hop varieties using advanced chemometrics and feature selection techniques. Similarities in volatile composition were found between Wakatu, Wai-iti™ and Kohatu®, which are rich in alcohols. Another grouping was found between Waimea™ and Nelson Sauvin™, where ketones and esters were commonly found. Rakau™ was distinct from the other eight cultivars, distinguished by 2-methylbutyl 3-methylbutanoate and methanethiol hexanoate. Riwaka™ contained the greatest number of discriminating volatile compounds when compared to other cultivars, which was dominated by terpenoids, such as geranyl 2-methylbutanoate, perillene and D-limonene. The chemical fingerprinting approach successfully identified volatile compounds that had not been previously found in New Zealand hop cultivars and that discriminated the commercial cultivars. The data obtained in the present study further extend the knowledge of New Zealand hops and will help facilitate targeted breeding.

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