Results/Discussion

Results

Research Question 1: Weight and Infection Status

Beeswarm plot depicting body mass and blood parasite infection status. Dots represent individual birds and color indicates bird species. Larger birds were more likely to be infected than smaller birds (GLM: x²= 5.85, p = 0.016).

A beeswarm plot depicting body mass and individual infection status. Separated by bird species. There was no significant relationship between body mass and infection status within individual species (GLM: X² = 0.20, p = 0.654).

(Left) Beeswarm plot depicting body mass and blood parasite infection status. Dots represent individual birds and color indicates bird species. Larger birds were more likely to be infected than smaller birds (GLM: x²= 5.85, p = 0.016). (Right) There was no significant relationship between body mass and infection status within individual species (GLM: X² = 0.20, p = 0.654).

Research Question 2: Tarsal Length and Infection Status

Beeswarm plots showing the relationship between tarsal length and parasite infection status (including infection with all three parasite genera). The relationship between tarsal length and overall infection status is significant (GLM: x* = 4.53, p = 0.033).

Beeswarm plots showing the relationship between tarsal length and only Plasmodium infection status. The relationship between tarsal length and Plasmodium infection is also significant (GLM: X" = 8.69, p = 0.003).

Beeswarm plots showing the relationship between tarsal length and (left) parasite infection status (including infection with all three parasite genera), and (right) only Plasmodium infection status. The relationship between tarsal length and overall infection status is significant (GLM: x* = 4.53, p = 0.033). The relationship between tarsal length and Plasmodium infection is also significant (GLM: X" = 8.69, p = 0.003).

Conclusion

Research Question 1: Weight and Infection Status

Across species, larger birds were generally more likely to be infected than smaller birds. This relationship wasn't found when comparing within species for which we had a sufficient sample size of both infected and uninfected birds, suggesting that infection status may not impact the growth of the bird.

Research Question 2: Tarsal Length and Infection Status

Birds with longer tarsi were more likely to be infected, indicating that the tarsus could be a place of feeding for disease vectors like mosquitoes that vector Plasmodium.

Overall Conclusion

Consistent with our predictions, we found that some morphometrics (body mass and tarsus length) were related to blood parasite infection rates in wild birds. Similar studies have supported the similar idea that increased weight of birds leads to increased prevalence of Haemoproteus and Plasmodium (Jiménez-Peñuela, et. al). Meanwhile, other studies show a relationship between body mass and infection of Plasmodium and Leucocytozoon (Santiago-Alarcon, et. al).

Future Research

Future research would include data that encompases bird behavior in hygiene upkeep. Data like cleansing habits and daily energy expenditure will be considered in order to dive deeper into the questions of what affects parasite presence within a host.

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