Category Archives: Research

Bird Diversity Lessens Human Exposure to West Nile Virus

Conservation, Research

Biologists at Washington University (St. Louis) have demonstrated that the more diverse a bird population is in an area, the less humans have a chance of being exposed to West Nile Virus WNV). “The bottom line is that where there are more bird species in your backyard, you have much lower risk of contracting West Nile Fever,” said Brian Allan, doctoral candidate in biology in Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis.

“The mechanisms are similar to those described for the ecology of Lyme disease. Most birds are poor reservoirs for West Nile Virus, and so mosquito bites taken on them are ‘wasted’ from the perspective of the virus. Where many bird species exist, very few mosquitoes get infected, and so we humans are at low risk. A few bird species are highly competent reservoirs, and these tend to occur in urbanized and suburbanized areas where bird diversity suffers.”

The characteristic reservoir species in urban situations are Amercan Crows, grackles, House Finches, Blue Jays, House Sparrows, and American Robins (with the robin being the most prolific carrier of WNV). Robins are acclimated to humans, and by feeding on the ground are relatively easy prey for mosquitoes.

The bottom line of this study is that even in urban and suburban situtations, human health is positively impacted by a healthy, diverse bird population. A more detailed explanation of the finding are available on the Washington University in St. Louis website.

Salt Cedar – More Beneficial Than Once Thought?

Conservation, Research

Recent University of Arizona research shows that salt cedar is not the evil invader once thought. According to the researchers, “what we and scientists at other universities have done is a total rethink on the specific ways plants use water, and how you manage it…We did have resistance at first, and the restoration community has been slow to change their minds about this, but eventually the story gets out. That’s why science still does drive these processes. Eventually the practices catch up to the science.”

“We’ve sort of gone full circle from the saltcedar being added to the landscape, then being regarded as a nuisance, and now being recognized for its value.”