Papers by Jordi Figuerola
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2013
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Journal of General Virology, 2012
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PLoS ONE, 2014
Understanding why host species differ so much in symbiont loads and how this depends on ecologica... more Understanding why host species differ so much in symbiont loads and how this depends on ecological host and symbiont traits is a major issue in the ecology of symbiosis. A first step in this inquiry is to know whether observed differences among host species are species-specific traits or more related with host-symbiont environmental conditions. Here we analysed the repeatability (R) of the intensity and the prevalence of feather mites to partition within- and among-host species variance components. We compiled the largest dataset so far available: 119 Paleartic passerine bird species, 75,944 individual birds, ca. 1.8 million mites, seven countries, 23 study years. Several analyses and approaches were made to estimate R and adjusted repeatability (R(adj)) after controlling for potential confounding factors (breeding period, weather, habitat, spatial autocorrelation and researcher identity). The prevalence of feather mites was moderately repeatable (R = 0.26-0.53; R(adj) = 0.32-0.57); smaller values were found for intensity (R = 0.19-0.30; R(adj )= 0.18-0.30). These moderate repeatabilities show that prevalence and intensity of feather mites differ among species, but also that the high variation within species leads to considerable overlap among bird species. Differences in the prevalence and intensity of feather mites within bird species were small among habitats, suggesting that local factors are playing a secondary role. However, effects of local climatic conditions were partially observed for intensity.
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PLoS ONE, 2014
Understanding why host species differ so much in symbiont loads and how this depends on ecologica... more Understanding why host species differ so much in symbiont loads and how this depends on ecological host and symbiont traits is a major issue in the ecology of symbiosis. A first step in this inquiry is to know whether observed differences among host species are species-specific traits or more related with host-symbiont environmental conditions. Here we analysed the repeatability (R) of the intensity and the prevalence of feather mites to partition within- and among-host species variance components. We compiled the largest dataset so far available: 119 Paleartic passerine bird species, 75,944 individual birds, ca. 1.8 million mites, seven countries, 23 study years. Several analyses and approaches were made to estimate R and adjusted repeatability (R(adj)) after controlling for potential confounding factors (breeding period, weather, habitat, spatial autocorrelation and researcher identity). The prevalence of feather mites was moderately repeatable (R = 0.26-0.53; R(adj) = 0.32-0.57); smaller values were found for intensity (R = 0.19-0.30; R(adj )= 0.18-0.30). These moderate repeatabilities show that prevalence and intensity of feather mites differ among species, but also that the high variation within species leads to considerable overlap among bird species. Differences in the prevalence and intensity of feather mites within bird species were small among habitats, suggesting that local factors are playing a secondary role. However, effects of local climatic conditions were partially observed for intensity.
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J Ornithol, 1996
A low presence of haematophagus parasites has been reported in arctic waders. Three hypotheses tr... more A low presence of haematophagus parasites has been reported in arctic waders. Three hypotheses try to explain these low levels: higher inherent resistance to parasites in the Charadrii, lower presence of parasites in the breeding grounds of waders in the arctic, and influence of the vegetation structure in the habitat of these birds. To test these hypotheses, we took blood
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Ringing & Migration, 1995
ABSTRACT The primary moult of Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea was studied at a staging area ... more ABSTRACT The primary moult of Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea was studied at a staging area in the south of Europe. The duration of primary moult was estimated as 73 days (9 August to 21 October), a shorter period than those reported in the wintering areas. Birds in moult showed a lower speed of fat accumulation than non moulters. An increase in the proportion of moulting birds was detected at the end of the migratory period, probably as a result of a longer staging time of moulting birds in the study area. The number and sex‐ratio of birds in wing moult showed a great annual variation. The brooding system of this species, in which only females give parental care, and the great annual variation in breeding success could be two of the factors that explain the great yearly variation in the moult schedule of Curlew Sandpiper.
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Journal of Ornithology, 1996
... J. Orn. 137: 523-525. - A low presence of haematophagus parasites has been reported in arctic... more ... J. Orn. 137: 523-525. - A low presence of haematophagus parasites has been reported in arctic waders. ... None of the samples had haematophagus parasites. Therefore, very low infection rates occur also in a non-arctic species. ...
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Journal of Wildlife …, Jan 1, 2010
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PloS one, Jan 1, 2010
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Journal of …, Jan 1, 2011
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Journal of …, Jan 1, 2012
The major histocompatibility complex (MHC), which harbours the most
polymorphic vertebrate genes,... more The major histocompatibility complex (MHC), which harbours the most
polymorphic vertebrate genes, plays a critical role in the host–pathogen
coevolutionary arms race. However, the extent to which MHC diversity
determines disease susceptibility and long-term persistence of populations is
currently under debate, as recent studies have demonstrated that low MHC
variability does not necessarily hamper population viability. However, these
studies typically assayed small and decimated populations in species with
restricted distribution, thereby making inferences about the evolutionary
potential of these populations difficult. Here, we show that MHC impoverishment has not constrained the ecological radiation and flourishing of falcons (Aves: Falconidae) worldwide. We found two remarkably different patterns of MHC variation within the genus Falco. Whereas MHC variation in kestrels (the basal group within the genus) is very high, falcons exhibit ancestrally low intra- and interspecific MHC variability. This pattern is not due to the inadvertent survey of paralogous genes or pseudogenes. Further, patterns of variation in mitochondrial or other nuclear genes do not indicate a generalized low level of genome-wide variability among falcons. Although a relative contribution of genetic drift cannot be completely ruled out, we propose the falcons went through an evolutionary transition, driven and maintained by natural selection, from primarily highly variable towards low polymorphic and slow-evolving MHC genes with a very specific immune function. This study highlights that the importance of MHC diversity cannot be generalized among vertebrates, and hints at the evolution of compensatory immune mechanisms in falcons to cope with emerging and continuously evolving pathogens.
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American Journal of Botany, 2005
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Archiv fur Hydrobiologie, 2002
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Archiv Fur Hydrobiologie, Nov 30, 2002
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PLoS ONE, 2013
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Papers by Jordi Figuerola
polymorphic vertebrate genes, plays a critical role in the host–pathogen
coevolutionary arms race. However, the extent to which MHC diversity
determines disease susceptibility and long-term persistence of populations is
currently under debate, as recent studies have demonstrated that low MHC
variability does not necessarily hamper population viability. However, these
studies typically assayed small and decimated populations in species with
restricted distribution, thereby making inferences about the evolutionary
potential of these populations difficult. Here, we show that MHC impoverishment has not constrained the ecological radiation and flourishing of falcons (Aves: Falconidae) worldwide. We found two remarkably different patterns of MHC variation within the genus Falco. Whereas MHC variation in kestrels (the basal group within the genus) is very high, falcons exhibit ancestrally low intra- and interspecific MHC variability. This pattern is not due to the inadvertent survey of paralogous genes or pseudogenes. Further, patterns of variation in mitochondrial or other nuclear genes do not indicate a generalized low level of genome-wide variability among falcons. Although a relative contribution of genetic drift cannot be completely ruled out, we propose the falcons went through an evolutionary transition, driven and maintained by natural selection, from primarily highly variable towards low polymorphic and slow-evolving MHC genes with a very specific immune function. This study highlights that the importance of MHC diversity cannot be generalized among vertebrates, and hints at the evolution of compensatory immune mechanisms in falcons to cope with emerging and continuously evolving pathogens.
polymorphic vertebrate genes, plays a critical role in the host–pathogen
coevolutionary arms race. However, the extent to which MHC diversity
determines disease susceptibility and long-term persistence of populations is
currently under debate, as recent studies have demonstrated that low MHC
variability does not necessarily hamper population viability. However, these
studies typically assayed small and decimated populations in species with
restricted distribution, thereby making inferences about the evolutionary
potential of these populations difficult. Here, we show that MHC impoverishment has not constrained the ecological radiation and flourishing of falcons (Aves: Falconidae) worldwide. We found two remarkably different patterns of MHC variation within the genus Falco. Whereas MHC variation in kestrels (the basal group within the genus) is very high, falcons exhibit ancestrally low intra- and interspecific MHC variability. This pattern is not due to the inadvertent survey of paralogous genes or pseudogenes. Further, patterns of variation in mitochondrial or other nuclear genes do not indicate a generalized low level of genome-wide variability among falcons. Although a relative contribution of genetic drift cannot be completely ruled out, we propose the falcons went through an evolutionary transition, driven and maintained by natural selection, from primarily highly variable towards low polymorphic and slow-evolving MHC genes with a very specific immune function. This study highlights that the importance of MHC diversity cannot be generalized among vertebrates, and hints at the evolution of compensatory immune mechanisms in falcons to cope with emerging and continuously evolving pathogens.