A COMPARISON OF THE BLOOD PARASITES OF 3 FENNO-SCANDIAN POPULATIONS OF THE PIED FLYCATCHER FICEDULA-HYPOLEUCA

Three Fenno-Scandian populations of Pied Flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca were sampled for their haematozoan parasites over the period 1989-1992. Pied Flycatchers from the environs of Uppsala, Sweden had lower prevalence and intensities of infections than those from Meltaus, Finland. In addition, birds from Uppsala were not parasitized by leucocytozoids and were virtually free from trypanosomes; conversely, birds from Meltaus were heavily parasitized by both groups. Birds from Konnevesi, Finland, showed an intermediate prevalence and intensity of parasitism. This study clearly shows the role of ecologically diverse conditions in determining the composition, transmission and prevalence of a blood parasite fauna presumably through their effect on vector composition and population density.