The finches Darwin— self pesticides

Galapagos finches that prompted Darwin to develop the theory of evolution become extinct. The reason is the appearance on the Islands of Philornis downsi, whose blood-sucking larvae parasitic on the Chicks of finches and other birds.

To protect from the scourge of a team of biologists from the University of Utah as a building material for nests suggested wild reels cotton balls treated with mild pesticide. The method was effective. Birds saved the nest from parasites and protect Chicks. According to the researchers, their method of sanobrabotke can help not only endangered birds but also some mammals.

"We were trying to help birds help themselves," says biology Professor Dale Clayton (Dale Clayton), lead author of the study, the results of which are published in the online version of the journal Current Biology on 5 may 2014.

"Sanobrabotku is very important because currently there are no other ways to control this parasite," — says biology doctoral student Sarah's Knuti (Sarah Knutie), the first author of the work.

According to Clayton, a fly intruded on the Galapagos Islands with Ecuador, moving across the ocean on boats and ships, and then brood in a huge number in 1990. Birds have not had contact with Philornis downsi. "From the point of view of the birds, these things are from Mars" — says the Professor.

The researchers used to help the birds permethrin, a mild pesticide that is safe for birds, which is used in lice shampoos. Clayton doesn't doubt the safety of the drug, but not sure that its effectiveness will not change with time. "The more interesting question is whether flies develop resistance to it, as did the lice with the head of a man", shares his doubt about the researcher.

According to the Professor, if to use a new method and permethrin is limited, only to help the endangered species, the parasites will not be able to adapt to it.

The idea of a new method of Knute Sarah suggested the birds themselves. Four years ago, working on the Galapagos Islands, she noticed that the finches collected fiber ropes for drying clothes and toilet paper and thread to use it in their nests.

The parasitic fly lays eggs in bird nests, so the larvae could feed on the blood of nestlings. Knute suggested that if the offer reels impregnated with pesticides cotton, they will use it to build their nests that can help them get rid of parasites.



Were used in the experiment dispensers of wire, filled with cotton balls, pre-treated 1% permethrin solution. Control pipettes were filled with unprocessed balls.

Observations have shown that the finches do not see the difference between bulbs, but use those dispensers that are no farther than 55 ft (16.8 m) from the nesting sites.

Scientists believe that a new method of pest control birds could be used to assist not only reels but also other species. "There are other birds that are suffering from parasites. If they can bring the treated cotton to their nests, they will be able to reduce the effects of parasites", says Sarah of Knuti.





Source: facepla.net