Mentor: Ryan Shannon, Ph.D.

Haemosporida are an order of vector-borne intraerythrocytic parasites that are the causative agents of avian malaria. Since migratory bird populations are in steep decline¹, it is important to study and possible stressors. The role of parasites in this decline remains quite understudied, however birds are commonly infected with blood parasites of many different species. There are more than 5,100 parasite lineages that infect over 2,300 bird species². These infections can be quantified directly by counting parasites on slides, however this process is both very time consuming and allows for parasites to be missed.

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