Resumen

MANZOLI, Darío E.; ANTONIAZZI, Leandro R.  y  BELDOMENICO, Pablo M.. Global environmental change, parasites and their host’s health: flies of the genus Philornis parasitizing bird nestlings. Hornero [online]. 2011, vol.26, n.1, pp.45-53. ISSN 0073-3407.

Human activity is causing considerable changes on our planet, which entail misbalances in one of the systems that regulate animal population dynamics: the host-parasite relationship. In this article we show, using documented examples, the direct action of pollution, habitat fragmentation and climate change, as well as their interactions, on the health of wildlife populations and their pathogens. We present the case of myiasis caused by flies of the genus Philornis, which larvae show parasitic behaviour that affects bird nestlings. The occurrence of these parasites depends on climatic variables, being more abundant during periods of high precipitation and temperature, which is influenced by climate change. Their abundance is also related to nest density, which is affected by forest fragmentation. Therefore, the net effect of global environmental change on the impact of this parasitism depends on at least two of their interacting factors: climate change and deforestation.

Palabras clave : Climate change; Conservation; Deforestation; Global change; Philornis; Pollution.

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