Determinants of the host-parasite relationship in a system formed by a cavity-nesting bird and its ectoparasites in an arid ecosystem Jesús Veiga Neto Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas PhD Thesis Granada, 2020 Este trabajo ha sido posible gracias a la concesión de una beca predoctoral de formación de personal investigador (BES-2015-075951) del Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad asociada al proyecto CGL2014-55969-P, financiado con fondos FEDER y del Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad. Esta Tesis ha sido desarrollada en la Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas en Almería. Instituto perteneciente al Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (EEZA-CSIC). Determinants of the host-parasite relationship in a system formed by a cavity-nesting bird and its ectoparasites in an arid ecosystem Memoria presentada por Jesús Veiga Neto para optar al título de Doctor por la Universidad de Granada. Esta tesis ha sido dirigida por el Dr. Francisco Valera Hernández, de la Estación Experimental de Zonas Áridas (CSIC) y el Dr. Gregorio Moreno Rueda, de la Universidad de Granada. En Almería, a 9 de Marzo de 2020 VºBº del director VºBº del director Fdo: Francisco Valera Hernández Fdo: Gregorio Moreno Rueda El Doctorando Fdo. Jesús Veiga Neto Table of contents Abstract ............................................................................................................................5 Resumen ...........................................................................................................................9 Introduction ....................................................................................................................13 Parasites’ habitat selection ...................................................................................... 14 Dispersal, host colonization and spatial distribution of parasites ...................... 17 Widening the scope: from one parasite species to parasites community ......... 18 Ectoparasites as vectors of pathogens .................................................................. 20 A particular case study: ectoparasites of birds and aridity ................................. 22 General hypothesis and objectives .............................................................................24 Materials and methods..................................................................................................28 References......................................................................................................................41 Chapter 1: Coexistence, habitat associations and puparia description of three dipteran species of the Family Carnidae ....................................................................49 Abstract....................................................................................................................... 50 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 51 Materials and methods .............................................................................................. 52 Results ........................................................................................................................ 57 Discussion .................................................................................................................. 63 Acknowledgements ................................................................................................... 66 References .................................................................................................................. 66 Chapter 2: Defining host range: host–parasite compatibility during the non- infective phase of the parasite also matters ..............................................................71 Abstract....................................................................................................................... 72 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 73 Materials and methods .............................................................................................. 75 Results ........................................................................................................................ 80 Discussion .................................................................................................................. 82 Acknowledgements ................................................................................................... 86 References .................................................................................................................. 86 Chapter 3: Off-host longevity of the winged dispersal stage of Carnus hemapterus (Insecta: Diptera) modulated by gender, body size and food provisioning ...................................................................................................................91 Abstract....................................................................................................................... 92 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 93 Materials and methods .............................................................................................. 95 Results ........................................................................................................................ 98 1 Discussion .................................................................................................................. 99 Acknowledgements ................................................................................................. 103 References ................................................................................................................ 103 Chapter 4: The effect of parasite density on host colonization success by a mobile avian ectoparasite...........................................................................................107 Abstract..................................................................................................................... 108 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 109 Materials and methods ............................................................................................ 110 Results ...................................................................................................................... 117 Discussion ................................................................................................................ 122 Acknowledgements ................................................................................................. 125 References ................................................................................................................ 125 Supplementary material .......................................................................................... 129 Chapter 5: Nest-site type: a major determinant of the ectoparasite infracommunity of a cavity-nesting bird species in an arid environment ............133 Abstract..................................................................................................................... 134 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 135 Materials and methods ............................................................................................ 137 Results ...................................................................................................................... 143 Discussion ................................................................................................................ 146 Acknowledgements ................................................................................................. 150 References ................................................................................................................ 151 Supplementary material .......................................................................................... 157 Chapter 6: Culicoides paolae and C. circumscriptus as potential vectors of avian haemosporidians in an arid ecosystem....................................................................163 Abstract..................................................................................................................... 164 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 165 Materials and methods ............................................................................................ 167 Results ...................................................................................................................... 172 Discussion ................................................................................................................ 176 Acknowledgements ................................................................................................. 180 References ................................................................................................................ 180 Discussion ....................................................................................................................187 Conclusions .................................................................................................................195