01714nas a2200241   4500008004500000020001400045245011100059210006900170260000800239300001200247490000800259520099300267653001401260653001301274653002201287653002001309653001301329100001201342700001901354700001701373700001201390856007001402       2010                        Engldsh    a0021-837500aAre parasite intensity and related costs of the milichiid fly Carnus hemapterus related to host sociality?0 aAre parasite intensity and related costs of the milichiid fly Ca  cOct  a907-9130 v1513 aEctoparasites have often been shown to have detrimental effects on their host. Not much is known, however, about determinants of infestation, e.g. the question of which factors affect distribution and occurrence of parasites on different host species (degree of host specificity) and their infestation rates. In this study we examine possible effects of host determinants on parasite intensity of Carnus hemapterus (Carnidae), an ectoparasitic fly on nestling birds, in the European bee-eater (Merops apiaster), which is a common host of C. hemapterus. Our results show that European bee-eaters seem to be one of the most heavily infested host species of C. hemapterus. We found that brood size, nestling age, and colony size are the most important determinants of infestation by C. hemapterus. This parasite seems to prefer medium-sized bee-eater chicks and to select them according to their condition. Our results further suggest a negative effect of C. hemapterus on chick development.10abehaviour10aCarnidae10aCarnus hemapterus10aMerops apiaster10aSlovakia1 aHoi, H.1 aKrištofík, J1 aDarolova, A.1 aHoi, C.  uhttp://www.springerlink.com/content/x637v4q7w5n87393/fulltext.pdf02016nas a2200181   4500008004100000245008400041210006900125300001200194490000800206520147900214653001301693653001101706653002201717100001801739700001301757700002501770856003901795       2008                        eng d00aPossible functions of alternative nests in raptors: the case of Bonelli's Eagle0 aPossible functions of alternative nests in raptors the case of B  a253-2590 v1493 aFour non-exclusive hypotheses have been proposed to explain the alternative nest-building behaviour of raptors: (1) nests as an advertising signal in territories, (2) frustration nests, (3) competition avoidance by nest-site and (4) reduction of nest ectoparasites. We report here data collected during an observational study of a population of Bonelli's Eagle Hieraaetus fasciatus in southeastern Spain. Our data does not support the first two hypotheses based on the closeness of nests within territories, the lack of correlation between the number of nests and the distance to neighbours and the construction of secondary nests at similar frequencies after breeding failures as after successes. In contrast, the construction of alternative nests to avoid competition with other cliff-nesting raptor species breeding nearby was clearly important since 30% of the pairs obtained some direct benefit from the existence of alternative nests within their territories. We also found abundant Coleoptera (Dermestidae) and Diptera (Carnidae, Calliphoridae and Phoridae) as ectoparasites in nests, and the alternative use of nests, synergetically with the presence of greenery as mechanisms for avoiding ectoparasites, was an important factor for the breeding success of the eagle. Our data suggest that competition avoidance and, in particular, the reduction of nest ectoparasite hypotheses are the more plausible explanations for the maintenance of alternative nests in raptors.10aCarnidae10aCarnus10aCarnus hemapterus1 aOntiveros, D.1 aCaro, J.1 aPleguezuelos, J., M.  u<Go to ISI>://WOS:000254237400014 