Welcome to the American Ornithological Society 2018 Annual Conference. We are pleased to have you join us at the lovely Hilton El Conquistador Resort in Tucson, AZ.
Supplemental feeding of birds by humans can affect host-parasite interactions. For example, increased food availability can have both a positive and negative effect on parasite resistance in the host. These interactions could be mediated by the host's gut microbiota because studies have found that host diet can affect their gut microbiota and gut microbiota can affect the immune system. In this study, I determined the effects of supplemental feeding on interactions between Eastern Bluebirds (Sialia sialis) and their parasitic nest flies (Protocalliphora sialia) in northern Minnesota. Specifically, I tested whether experimental manipulations of mealworm availability and parasite abundance affect gut microbiota and the antibody-mediated immune response in Bluebirds. I found that supplemental feeding of Bluebirds dramatically reduced parasite abundance compared to unsupplemented birds, which was mediated by the antibody response. The effect of the treatments on gut microbiota will also be discussed. These results suggest that supplemental feeding of bluebirds can improve the health of the birds by increasing their resistance to parasites.
