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