Avian malaria

Avian malaria and related parasites belong to a globally distributed group of vector-transmitted intracellular blood parasites (Haemosporida; transmitted primarily by mosquitoes and biting midges).  

As is the case in humans, these parasites can cause severe problems for infected birds (Valkiūnas 2005) and have therefore been suggested as model agents to study the affects of parasitism on the distributions and life-history characteristics of their hosts (Ricklefs 2010).

Using recently developed molecular techniques (DNA extractions from avian blood) and traditional parasitology methods (microscopy of blood smears), our lab is involved in several projects to describe the diversity, distribution and ecological impacts of avian malaria parasites in south Pacific birds.

Specifically, we are aiming to

• Identify ecological and environmental determinants of parasite colonisation and persistence on small islands [using Heron Island, QLD as a model system; (Clark et al. 2014a)].

• Contribute to and utilise global datasets of parasite genetic lineages [MalAvi database; (Bensch et al. 2009)] to describe large scale patterns in parasite diversity and distribution (Clark et al. 2014b)

• Investigate patterns of parasite pressure and their potential influence on host divergence across islands in the New Caledonia archipelago

• Describe spatial gradients in parasite pressure and how they relate to host migration strategies for long-distance migratory shorebirds

• Identify the roles that invasive species can play to influence prevalence patterns of parasites in native bird species (using the Indian Myna in southeast QLD in and northeast NSW as a model system)

Funding

These projects have been partly funded by research grants from BirdLife Australia and Birds Queensland (to N. Clark for Australia field and labwork) and the National Geographic Society (to S. Clegg for New Caledonia field and labwork).