Group Size and Nest Spacing Affect Buggy Creek Virus (Togaviridae: Alphavirus) Infection in Nestling House Sparrows
2011

Group Size and Nest Spacing Affect Buggy Creek Virus Infection in House Sparrows

Sample size: 21 publication 10 minutes Evidence: high

Author Information

Author(s): Valerie A. O'Brien, Charles R. Brown

Primary Institution: University of Tulsa

Hypothesis

How do group size and nest spacing affect the likelihood of Buggy Creek virus infection in house sparrows?

Conclusion

Larger house sparrow colonies have a higher prevalence of Buggy Creek virus, while the presence of cliff swallows reduces this prevalence.

Supporting Evidence

  • The prevalence of Buggy Creek virus in nestling sparrows increased with sparrow colony size.
  • Virus prevalence decreased with the presence of cliff swallows.
  • Nests closer to infected nests had a higher likelihood of being infected.

Takeaway

If more house sparrows live close together, they are more likely to get sick from a virus, but having cliff swallows around can help keep them safe.

Methodology

The study involved blood sampling nestling house sparrows from 21 colony sites and analyzing the relationship between colony size, nest spacing, and virus prevalence.

Potential Biases

Potential biases include the selection of colony sites and the handling of nestlings during sampling.

Limitations

The study was limited to specific geographic locations and may not generalize to other regions or species.

Participant Demographics

The study focused on nestling house sparrows and cliff swallows in western Nebraska.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.0001

Statistical Significance

p<0.0001

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1371/journal.pone.0025521

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