Title |
Macroparasites of introduced parakeets in Italy: a possible role for parasite-mediated competition
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Published in |
Parasitology Research, May 2015
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DOI | 10.1007/s00436-015-4548-2 |
Pubmed ID | |
Authors |
Emiliano Mori, Leonardo Ancillotto, Jim Groombridge, Theresa Howard, Vincent S. Smith, Mattia Menchetti |
Abstract |
Alien species are considered a cause of biodiversity loss throughout the world. An important but often overlooked form of competition with native species is the parasite-mediated one. Introduced species may bring their own parasites from their native ranges (spillover) or get native parasites from native species, thus increasing the parasites' spread and transmission risk (spillback). Thus, a complete knowledge of parasites hosted by introduced species is important to assess and to possibly prevent impacts. Ring-necked and monk parakeets have been introduced in many European countries, where they established a number of alien reproductive populations. We sampled 21 ring-necked parakeets and 7 monk parakeets from Italy and identified 35 arthropod ectoparasites belonging to five species. Amongst those, one species was native to India (Neopsittaconirmus lybartota), where alien populations of ring-necked parakeet may have been originated, and one species from South America (Paragoniocotes fulvofasciatus), which is typically found of the monk parakeet in its native range. The other three species of arthropod parasites were native to Italy and commonly found on native species, suggesting the possibility of spillback processes. |
X Demographics
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
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United States | 1 | 14% |
Spain | 1 | 14% |
Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1 | 14% |
United Kingdom | 1 | 14% |
Unknown | 3 | 43% |
Demographic breakdown
Type | Count | As % |
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Members of the public | 5 | 71% |
Scientists | 1 | 14% |
Science communicators (journalists, bloggers, editors) | 1 | 14% |
Mendeley readers
Geographical breakdown
Country | Count | As % |
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Argentina | 1 | 2% |
Unknown | 43 | 98% |
Demographic breakdown
Readers by professional status | Count | As % |
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Researcher | 9 | 20% |
Student > Ph. D. Student | 8 | 18% |
Student > Bachelor | 6 | 14% |
Student > Master | 5 | 11% |
Professor > Associate Professor | 3 | 7% |
Other | 3 | 7% |
Unknown | 10 | 23% |
Readers by discipline | Count | As % |
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Agricultural and Biological Sciences | 14 | 32% |
Environmental Science | 10 | 23% |
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology | 2 | 5% |
Veterinary Science and Veterinary Medicine | 2 | 5% |
Business, Management and Accounting | 1 | 2% |
Other | 3 | 7% |
Unknown | 12 | 27% |