Mentor: Ryan Shannon, Ph.D.

Haemosporidians are vector-born blood parasites that infect various vertebrates via the feeding of insects like mosquitos, biting midges, and black flies. The most common genera, Plasmodium, Haemoproteus, and Leucocytozoon, are found in many species of birds throughout Southwestern Ohio. The relationship between these parasites and their host is generally unstudied, prompting further research into the causes and effects of host infection. This study aims use the data collected by the Avian Research and Education Institute (AREI) to look any correlation between the infection status of individuals and their body structure which includes wingspan, tarsal length, and overall weight. By doing this, we found a positive correlation between infection status and an individual's weight (g) as well as their tarsal length (mm). Furthermore, the infection rate of Plasmodium was seen to increase as the tarsal length (mm) of the bird increased. This project serves as a gateway to future studies that look into the trends connecting a bird's infection status and physical characteristics.

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