Multivariate study of lice (Insecta: Psocodea: Phthiraptera) assemblages hosted by hummingbirds (Aves: Trochilidae)

0580683 - ÚBO 2025 RIV GB eng J - Journal Article
Sychra, O. - Rózsa, L. - Podani, J. - Sychra, V. - Literák, I. - Čapek, Miroslav
Multivariate study of lice (Insecta: Psocodea: Phthiraptera) assemblages hosted by hummingbirds (Aves: Trochilidae).
Parasitology. (2024). ISSN 0031-1820. E-ISSN 1469-8161
Institutional support: RVO:68081766
Keywords : abundance * d-correlation * elevation * migration * multivariate study * ordination * prevalence * sexual dimorphism * Trochiliphagus * Trochiloecetes
OECD category: Ecology
Impact factor: 2.4, year: 2022
Method of publishing: Open access
https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/parasitology/article/multivariate-study-of-lice-insecta-psocodea-phthiraptera-assemblages-hosted-by-hummingbirds-aves-trochilidae/19D3D3B1DC158C91FC3A23CFEFA04AC3#

Lice were collected from 579 hummingbirds, representing 49 species, in 19 locations in Brazil, Costa Rica, Honduras, Paraguay, and Peru, at elevations 0-3000 m above sea level. The following variables were included in an ecological analysis (1) host species’ mean body mass, sexual size dimorphism, sexual dichromatism, migratory behaviour, and dominance behaviour, (2) mean elevation, mean and predictability of temperature, mean and predictability of precipitation of the host species’ geographic area, (3) prevalence and mean abundance of species of lice as measures of infestation. Ordination methods were applied to evaluate data structure. Since the traits are expressed at different scales (nominal, interval, and ratio), a principal component analysis based on d-correlations for the traits and a principal coordinates analysis based on the Gower index for species were applied. Lice or louse eggs were found on 80 (13.8%) birds of 22 species. A total of 267 lice of four genera, Trochiloecetes, Trochiliphagus, Myrsidea and Leremenopon, were collected, with a total mean intensity of 4.6. There were positive interactions between migration behaviour and infestation indices, with elevational migrants having a higher prevalence and abundance of lice than resident birds. Further, we found weak negative correlations between host body mass and infestation indices and positive correlations between mean elevation and prevalence and abundance of Trochiliphagus. Thus, formerly unknown differences in the ecological characteristics and infestation measures of Trochiliphagus and Trochiloecetes lice were revealed, which allows a better understanding of these associations and their potential impacts on hummingbirds.
Permanent Link: https://hdl.handle.net/11104/0349447