Print PageThe effects of urbanization on avian community structure are well-documented. Decreasing native species richness is associated with increasing urbanization as well as an increase in the abundance in introduced species. These simplified urban communities are thought to have a higher prevalence of disease since many introduced species may have higher competence. Here, we evaluate the effects of urbanization on avian health and parasite prevalence across a gradient of urbanization and across different scales. Song sparrows were captured at 107 locations across the urban-rural gradient associated with Wilkes-Barre, PA. We examined blood smears for haemosporidian blood parasites and we used the residuals of a mass-tarsus regression as an index of avian health. Parasite prevalence and avian health were regressed with remotely sensed land use data using logistic and normal regression, respectively. Land use data were obtained at each capture site in 90, 210, and 990 m buffers.
Results/Conclusions
Parasite prevalence was not influenced by land use at any scale. Avian health, however, was negatively affected by urban cover and most strongly at the largest scale (1 km around a capture site). Our results suggest that urbanization influences the body condition of a common songbird but not disease prevalence.
