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Birds, as habitats - the hidden world of avian ectoparasites
/guiding material/
Life in the water...
life in terrestrial systems…
life in the air...
AND life on / in other animals!
feather lice
Biodiversity of parasites
endoparasites: viruses, bacteria, unicellular organisms, worms, etc…
tapeworms and nematods
unicellulars (Plasmodium, tha causative agent of malaria)
5-10 % of animal species are considered parasites. If we involve herbivorous species and parasitoids as parasites their rate increases up to 30-50 %.
Many of them can induce serious diseases.
ectoparasites
ticks
feather licemites
fleas
bat flies
Many of them can transfer serious diseases.
Animals usually have:
habitat
prey
predator
Sand Lizard as an example
for parasites, host individuals means all of these
habitat and food
predator
preening
Arms race between hosts and parasites
Hosts are motivated in avoiding or reducing infestation.
preening and scratching
bathing and dusting
sunbathing
an oxpecker is searching for ticks
mates can reach unreachable bodyparts
Sometimes others can help:
anting: ants hint the feathers with formic acid which is toxic for parasites
Parasites have to avoid host defences and colonise new host individuals.
Lice can attach to hippoboscid flies to reach new hosts more easily.
A louse hiding in the hollows of a feather to avoid preening.
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