Antagonistic processes between parasites and their hosts are hallmarks of evolutionary ecology. A group of parasites is adapted to feed on feather keratin. In doing so, they infl ict a variety of costs on avian hosts by causing feathers to degrade faster. Feather holes represent a class of feather damage that is attributed to the chewing bites of Phthirapteran lice. Consequently, hole counts were used as an approximation of lice infestation intensity when studying bird – lice interaction. Here, I express some reservations regarding this practice. I survey the literature concerning feather holes and the state of the hole – lice concept, highlight some uncertainties regarding its reliability, off er possible alternative explanations for the o...
In an evolutionary context, parasites tend to be morphologically conservative relative to their host...
thesisCrypsis is the color resemblance of an animal to its background such that predators have diffi...
Abstract. Feather mites are highly specialized plumage and skin ectoparasites that are variously ada...
Birds are commonly infested with feather chewing lice that have the potential to affect their surviv...
Feather holes have traditionally been suggested to be feeding traces of chewing lice (mallophagans)....
Although parasites may impair the expression of tail ornaments in birds, the importance of parasitis...
We examined patterns of feather damage caused by chewing lice in Tree Swallows. We counted the numbe...
Abstract The uropygial gland of birds secretes wax that is applied to the plumage, where the secreti...
dissertationBirds and mammals engage in regular grooming behaviors to combat ectoparasites. While gr...
Birds are plagued by an impressive diversity of ectoparasites, ranging from feather-feeding lice, to...
Abstract: Birds are plagued by an impressive diversity of ectoparasites, ranging from feather-feedin...
Parasites and other symbionts are crucial components of ecosystems, regulating host populations and ...
Feather mites are found on most species of birds and the birds captured at SWAMP in Lake Forest, IL ...
Abstract: Many parasites apparently change the behavior of their hosts in a way that seemingly incre...
Although parasites may impair the expression of tail ornaments in birds, the importance of parasitis...
In an evolutionary context, parasites tend to be morphologically conservative relative to their host...
thesisCrypsis is the color resemblance of an animal to its background such that predators have diffi...
Abstract. Feather mites are highly specialized plumage and skin ectoparasites that are variously ada...
Birds are commonly infested with feather chewing lice that have the potential to affect their surviv...
Feather holes have traditionally been suggested to be feeding traces of chewing lice (mallophagans)....
Although parasites may impair the expression of tail ornaments in birds, the importance of parasitis...
We examined patterns of feather damage caused by chewing lice in Tree Swallows. We counted the numbe...
Abstract The uropygial gland of birds secretes wax that is applied to the plumage, where the secreti...
dissertationBirds and mammals engage in regular grooming behaviors to combat ectoparasites. While gr...
Birds are plagued by an impressive diversity of ectoparasites, ranging from feather-feeding lice, to...
Abstract: Birds are plagued by an impressive diversity of ectoparasites, ranging from feather-feedin...
Parasites and other symbionts are crucial components of ecosystems, regulating host populations and ...
Feather mites are found on most species of birds and the birds captured at SWAMP in Lake Forest, IL ...
Abstract: Many parasites apparently change the behavior of their hosts in a way that seemingly incre...
Although parasites may impair the expression of tail ornaments in birds, the importance of parasitis...
In an evolutionary context, parasites tend to be morphologically conservative relative to their host...
thesisCrypsis is the color resemblance of an animal to its background such that predators have diffi...
Abstract. Feather mites are highly specialized plumage and skin ectoparasites that are variously ada...