The influence of vagrant hosts and weather patterns on the colonization and persistence of blood parasites in an island bird

摘要: Aim: Colonization and extinction are important drivers of island biogeography, but they difficult to study. We used a long-term dataset determine the mechanisms that contribute colonization persistence for vector-borne blood parasites in an population birds regularly receives infected vagrant conspecifics wind-assisted potential vectors from mainland. Location: Heron Island (Australia) Australian Methods: determined prevalence, temporal stability host-specificity Haemoproteus Plasmodium resident mainland-vagrant silvereyes (Zosterops lateralis) on over seven years (1999-2003 2012-2013). carried out simulations using mainland infection data arrival scenarios test whether transmission vagrants influences patterns residents. tested variation parasite prevalence was predicted by abiotic factors associated with vector breeding dispersal. Results: Parasite composition varied considerably across years. Host-specialist species exhibited lower than expected frequent absence despite high probability arriving via vagrants. In contrast, host-generalist low were temporally persistent silvereyes. Increases diversity episodes offshore winds. Main conclusions: This study shows abundant source populations do not necessarily exhibit increased success host movement. Vagrant likely shape island-resident Instead, indirect evidence associations between weather dynamics suggests insular community may be limited establishment. Our results support hypothesis is determining parasite's ability persist islands, host-specialists at greater risk failing establish after their initial arrival.