Hosta

by | Mar 16, 2018 | Hosta

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Haemoproteus coatneyi is a species of parasitic eukaryote that is found in the yellowhammer. Male yellowhammers with high levels of this parasite produced fewer offspring (there was no such effect for females), and tend to be less brightly coloured. The striking plumage of the male yellowhammer may therefore have arisen as a signal of fitness to breed.[1] Yellowhammers infected with Haemoproteus species may have lower winter survival rates due to a tendency to having shorter wings.[2]

References

  1. ^ Sundberg, Jan (1995). "Parasites, plumage coloration and reproductive success in the Yellowhammer, Emberiza citrinella". Oikos. 742 (2): 331–339. Bibcode:1995Oikos..74..331S. doi:10.2307/3545664. JSTOR 3545664.
  2. ^ Dunn, Jenny C; Goodman, Simon J; Benton, Tim G; Hamer, Keith C (2013). "Avian blood parasite infection during the non-breeding season: an overlooked issue in declining populations?". BMC Ecology. 13 (30): 1–9. doi:10.1186/1472-6785-13-30. PMC 3848531. PMID 24011390.
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