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Association between social factors and gastrointestinal parasite product excretion in a group of non-cooperatively breeding carrion crows

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posted on 2023-08-30, 18:03 authored by Claudia A. F. Wascher
In group-living animals, the social environment is thought to affect the probability of parasite transmission. Here, I investigate relationships between social behaviour and gastrointestinal parasite product excretion in the carrion crow (Corvus corone). Individuals from a population of non-cooperatively breeding carrion crows excreted less samples containing coccidian oocysts when kept in larger groups (8 or 9 individuals) compared to those individuals kept in smaller groups (2 or 3 individuals). Lower-ranking individuals excreted more samples containing parasite oocysts compared to higher-ranking individuals. The strength of affiliative relationships and number of related individuals in the group did not relate to the proportion of droppings containing coccidian oocysts. The present results confirm an association between social environment and parasite excretion patterns in carrion crows, but the patterns described in the present study differ from previously published data derived from a group of cooperatively breeding crows. This illustrates that differences between the social systems of carrion crows might result in different associations between the social environment and parasite product excretion patterns.

History

Refereed

  • Yes

Volume

75

Page range

30

Publication title

Behavioral Ecology and Sociobiology

ISSN

1432-0762

Publisher

Springer

File version

  • Accepted version

Language

  • eng

Legacy posted date

2021-01-12

Legacy creation date

2021-01-12

Legacy Faculty/School/Department

Faculty of Science & Engineering

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