| haemoproteus iwa n. sp. in great frigatebirds (fregata minor [gmelin]) from hawaii: parasite morphology and prevalence. | we describe a new species of haemoproteus kruse, 1890 from great frigatebirds (fregata minor [gmelin]) captured on tern island-french frigate shoals and laysan island in hawaii. parasite prevalence on laysan island (35%) was not significantly different than that of tern island (36%). on laysan, prevalence was highest in juveniles (52%), followed by adult males (29%) and adult females (19%). prevalence on tern was 36% both for adult females and juveniles, and 28% for adult males. parasitemia was ... | 1996 | 8636858 |
| hippoboscid-transmitted haemoproteus parasites (haemosporida) infect galapagos pelecaniform birds: evidence from molecular and morphological studies, with a description of haemoproteus iwa. | haemosporidian parasites are widely distributed and common parasites of birds, and the application of molecular techniques has revealed remarkable diversity among their lineages. four haemosporidian genera infect avian hosts (plasmodium, haemoproteus, leucocytozoon and fallisia), and haemoproteus is split into two sub-genera based on morphological evidence and phylogenetic support for two divergent sister clades. one clade (haemoproteus (parahaemoproteus)) contains parasites developing in birds ... | 2011 | 21683082 |
| infection by haemoproteus parasites in four species of frigatebirds and description of haemoproteus (parahaemoproteus) valkiūnasi sp. nov. (haemosporida: haemoproteidae). | abstract among seabirds, the family fregatidae stands out with a high prevalence of blood parasites. four of 5 species in this family have been found infected with haemoproteus; however, complete species descriptions with molecular phylogeny are lacking. seventy-five samples from 4 species of frigatebirds, fregata andrewsi, fregata minor, fregata magnificens, and fregata aquila, were screened for infections caused by species of haemoproteus. four different parasites haplotypes were found infec ... | 2011 | 21992108 |
| haemoproteus iwa in great frigatebirds (fregata minor) in the islands of the western indian ocean. | blood parasites of the sub-genus haemoproteus have been reported in seabirds, in particular in species in the suliformes order. these parasites are transmitted by hippoboscid flies of the genus olfersia; strong specificity has been suggested between the vector and its vertebrate host. we investigated the prevalence of haemoproteus infection in suliformes and hippoboscid flies in two oceanic islands of the western indian ocean: europa and tromelin. in total, 209 blood samples were collected from ... | 2014 | 24810172 |
| infection with haemoproteus iwa affects vector movement in a hippoboscid fly--frigatebird system. | haemosporidian parasites, which require both a vertebrate and invertebrate host, are most commonly studied in the life stages occurring in the vertebrate. however, aspects of the vector's behaviour and biology can have profound effects on parasite dynamics. we explored the effects of a haemosporidian parasite, haemoproteus iwa, on a hippoboscid fly vector, olfersia spinifera. olfersia spinifera is an obligate ectoparasite of the great frigatebird, fregata minor, living among bird feathers for al ... | 2014 | 24215498 |
| comparative host-parasite population genetic structures: obligate fly ectoparasites on galapagos seabirds. | parasites often have shorter generation times and, in some cases, faster mutation rates than their hosts, which can lead to greater population differentiation in the parasite relative to the host. here we present a population genetic study of two ectoparasitic flies, olfersia spinifera and olfersia aenescens compared with their respective bird hosts, great frigatebirds (fregata minor) and nazca boobies (sula granti). olfersia spinifera is the vector of a haemosporidian parasite, haemoproteus iwa ... | 2013 | 23659306 |
| metal levels in feathers of 12 species of seabirds from midway atoll in the northern pacific ocean. | seabirds are excellent subjects for examination of heavy metals because they are long-lived, feed at different distances from land, and exhibit different trophic levels. in this paper we compare the levels of lead, cadmium, mercury arsenic, chromium, manganese, selenium, and tin in the feathers of birds nesting on midway atoll in the northern pacific ocean. we test the null hypothesis that there are no interspecific differences in the levels of metals in the feathers of the adult black-footed al ... | 2000 | 10943901 |
| weights, hematology, and serum chemistry of seven species of free-ranging tropical pelagic seabirds. | i established reference values for weight, hematology, and serum chemistry for seven species of free-ranging hawaiian tropical pelagic seabirds comprising three orders (procellariiformes, pelecaniformes, charadriiformes) and six families (procellariidae, phaethontidae, diomedeidae, sulidae, fregatidae, and laridae). species examined included 84 hawaiian darkrumped petrels (pterodoma phaeopygia), 90 wedge-tailed shearwaters (puffinus pacificus), 151 laysan albatrosses (diomedea immutabilis), 69 r ... | 1996 | 9359064 |
| young frigatebirds learn how to compensate for wind drift. | compensating for wind drift can improve goalward flight efficiency in animal taxa, especially among those that rely on thermal soaring to travel large distances. little is known, however, about how animals acquire this ability. the great frigatebird (fregata minor) exemplifies the challenges of wind drift compensation because it lives a highly pelagic lifestyle, travelling very long distances over the open ocean but without the ability to land on water. using gps tracks from fledgling frigatebir ... | 2020 | 33081617 |
| two new heteromorphic deutonymphs (hypopi) (acarina: hypoderidae) from the great frigatebird (fregata minor). | | 1968 | 5687742 |
| inter-island movements and population differentiation in a pelagic seabird. | we used mark-resight data and amplified fragment length polymorphism (aflp) markers to assess movements and gene flow between central pacific breeding colonies of the great frigatebird, fregata minor. of 715 adult frigatebirds marked on tern island and johnston atoll, 21.3% were resighted at other frigatebird colonies at least 582 km away. mark-resight data indicated regular movement of males and females between tern island and johnston atoll (873 km apart), and less frequent movements to other ... | 2003 | 12969485 |
| prevalence of hemoproteus iwa in galapagos great frigatebirds (fregata minor) and their obligate fly ectoparasite (olfersia spinifera). | the prevalence of hemosporidian parasites varies among different host species, geographic locations, habitats, and host life histories, and yet we do not have a firm understanding of the ultimate causes of the variation. seabirds are not typically found infected with hemosporidian parasites; however, frigatebird species have been repeatedly documented with hemoproteus spp. infections. hemoproteus iwa in galapagos great frigatebirds (fregata minor) is vectored by a hippoboscid fly, olfersia spini ... | 2012 | 22509857 |
| population dynamics of hawaiian seabird colonies vulnerable to sea-level rise. | globally, seabirds are vulnerable to anthropogenic threats both at sea and on land. seabirds typically nest colonially and show strong fidelity to natal colonies, and such colonies on low-lying islands may be threatened by sea-level rise. we used french frigate shoals, the largest atoll in the hawaiian archipelago, as a case study to explore the population dynamics of seabird colonies and the potential effects sea-level rise may have on these rookeries. we compiled historic observations, a 30-ye ... | 2012 | 22624702 |
| frigate birds track atmospheric conditions over months-long transoceanic flights. | understanding how animals respond to atmospheric conditions across space is critical for understanding the evolution of flight strategies and long-distance migrations. we studied the three-dimensional movements and energetics of great frigate birds (fregata minor) and showed that they can stay aloft for months during transoceanic flights. to do this, birds track the edge of the doldrums to take advantage of favorable winds and strong convection. locally, they use a roller-coaster flight, relying ... | 2016 | 27365448 |
| evidence that birds sleep in mid-flight. | many birds fly non-stop for days or longer, but do they sleep in flight and if so, how? it is commonly assumed that flying birds maintain environmental awareness and aerodynamic control by sleeping with only one eye closed and one cerebral hemisphere at a time. however, sleep has never been demonstrated in flying birds. here, using electroencephalogram recordings of great frigatebirds (fregata minor) flying over the ocean for up to 10 days, we show that they can sleep with either one hemisphere ... | 2016 | 27485308 |
| comparative ectoparasite loads of five seabird species in the galapagos islands. | in this paper we describe the ectoparasitic lice (insecta: phthiraptera) found on 5 species of seabirds (magnificent frigatebird fregata magnificens; great frigatebird fregata minor ; nazca booby sula granti ; blue-footed booby sula nebouxii ; and red-footed booby sula sula ) on the galapagos archipelago. we found 9 species of ectoparasitic lice: 5 species of pectinopygus ischnocerans, 1 infesting each host; 2 species of colpocephalum amblyceran lice, 1 on each frigatebird species; and 2 shared ... | 2014 | 24911632 |
| lineage sorting in multihost parasites: eidmanniella albescens and fregatiella aurifasciata on seabirds from the galapagos islands. | parasites comprise a significant percentage of the biodiversity of the planet and are useful systems to test evolutionary and ecological hypotheses. in this study, we analyze the effect of host species identity and the immediate local species assemblage within mixed species colonies of nesting seabirds on patterns of genetic clustering within two species of multihost ectoparasitic lice. we use three genetic markers (one mitochondrial, coi, and two nuclear, ef1-α and wingless) and maximum likelih ... | 2015 | 26380662 |
| serological evidence for the circulation of flaviviruses in seabird populations of the western indian ocean. | birds play a central role in the epidemiology of several flaviviruses of concern for public and veterinary health. seabirds represent the most abundant and widespread avifauna in the western indian ocean and may play an important role as host reservoirs and spreaders of arthropod-borne pathogens such as flaviviruses. we report the results of a serological investigation based on blood samples collected from nine seabird species from seven islands in the indian ocean. using a commercial competitiv ... | 2016 | 26194365 |
| health status of great frigatebirds (fregata minor) determined by haematology, biochemistry, blood gases, and physical examination. | the great frigatebird, fregata minor, is a widely distributed seabird native to the galápagos archipelago. haematology and blood chemistry parameters have been published for this species but not from the san cristóbal and north seymour great frigatebird breeding colonies. analyses were run on blood samples drawn from 25 great frigatebirds captured by hand at their nests at punta pitt on san cristóbal island and 30 birds on north seymour island, galápagos islands. a portable blood analyser (istat ... | 2018 | 30026947 |
| development of flight and foraging behaviour in a juvenile seabird with extreme soaring capacities. | the early life of animals is a period of high mortality, when foraging capacities are assumed to be improved progressively. in birds, this critical period involves the improvement of the flight. how do young birds gain these capacities has rarely been studied in natural conditions especially in seabirds that spend most of their life at sea. we used detailed gps and body acceleration data on 37 great frigatebirds (fregata minor), to test the hypothesis that juveniles starting their first flights ... | 2020 | 31628669 |
| carotenoids and throat pouch coloration in the great frigatebird (fregata minor). | carotenoid pigments are a common source of red, orange, and yellow coloration in vertebrates. animals cannot manufacture carotenoids and therefore must obtain them in their diet to produce carotenoid-based coloration. male great frigatebirds (fregata minor) display a bright red inflated gular pouch as part of their elaborate courtship display. the basis of this coloration until now has not been investigated. using high-performance liquid chromatography (hplc), we investigated the types and conce ... | 2008 | 18035568 |
| microsatellite primers for relatedness and population structure in great frigatebirds (pelecaniformes: fregatidae). | eighteen moderately polymorphic microsatellite loci were isolated and characterized for great frigatebirds fregata minor. polymorphism for the 12 dinucleotide and six tetranucleotide markers was assessed in 23 birds from a hawaii population. allelic diversity ranged from two to 12 (mean 5.9), with observed heterozygosity from 0.304 to 0.956 (mean 0.637). three loci showed homozygote excess, possibly due to null alleles. one additional pair of loci exhibited strong gametic disequilibrium. thus, a ... | 2008 | 21586057 |
| sequence-based evidence for major histocompatibility complex-disassortative mating in a colonial seabird. | the major histocompatibility complex (mhc) is a polymorphic gene family associated with immune defence, and it can play a role in mate choice. under the genetic compatibility hypothesis, females choose mates that differ genetically from their own mhc genotypes, avoiding inbreeding and/or enhancing the immunocompetence of their offspring. we tested this hypothesis of disassortative mating based on mhc genotypes in a population of great frigatebirds (fregata minor) by sequencing the second exon of ... | 2012 | 21613297 |
| frigatebird behaviour at the ocean-atmosphere interface: integrating animal behaviour with multi-satellite data. | marine top predators such as seabirds are useful indicators of the integrated response of the marine ecosystem to environmental variability at different scales. large-scale physical gradients constrain seabird habitat. birds however respond behaviourally to physical heterogeneity at much smaller scales. here, we use, for the first time, three-dimensional gps tracking of a seabird, the great frigatebird (fregata minor), in the mozambique channel. these data, which provide at the same time high-re ... | 2012 | 22951344 |
| philopatry drives genetic differentiation in an island archipelago: comparative population genetics of galapagos nazca boobies (sula granti) and great frigatebirds (fregata minor). | seabirds are considered highly mobile, able to fly great distances with few apparent barriers to dispersal. however, it is often the case that seabird populations exhibit strong population genetic structure despite their potential vagility. here we show that galapagos nazca booby (sula granti) populations are substantially differentiated, even within the small geographic scale of this archipelago. on the other hand, galapagos great frigatebird (fregata minor) populations do not show any genetic ... | 2012 | 23170212 |
| sleeping on the wing. | wakefulness enables animals to interface adaptively with the environment. paradoxically, in insects to humans, the efficacy of wakefulness depends on daily sleep, a mysterious, usually quiescent state of reduced environmental awareness. however, several birds fly non-stop for days, weeks or months without landing, questioning whether and how they sleep. it is commonly assumed that such birds sleep with one cerebral hemisphere at a time (i.e. unihemispherically) and with only the corresponding ey ... | 2017 | 28163874 |