DOI: 10.5061/dryad.m905qftzj
title: A parasite reduction conservation intervention does not improve fledging success or most condition metrics for purple martins

description: Purple Martins (Progne subis subis) have an unusually close relationship
 with humans, as they nest exclusively in man-made nest boxes. Current
 conservation policy directly promotes further interaction with this
 species by advocating regular replacement of nest materials during the
 nestling phase to reduce ectoparasite load and increase nestling fitness.
 We conducted the first test of the efficacy of this recommendation and
 found that it was partially effective in reducing parasite abundance, but
 had no effect on nestling fledging success, body mass, leukocyte count, or
 triglyceride or uric acid concentration. We found a small but significant
 increase in nestling hematocrit associated with nest material replacement,
 implying that parasites may induce nestling anemia. Contrary to our
 expectations, we also found elevated heterophil/lymphocyte ratios in
 nestlings with replacements, possibly indicating elevated physiological
 stress associated with nest replacements. Based on our results, we do not
 recommend nest material replacements to combat routine parasite
 infestations.
description: Full details of data collection are available in the associated
 paper. Data in 'sticky strips analysis 2018'
 were collected by repeated sampling (collections A:D) of fleas and
 mesostigmatid mites in nests ('cavities') in two experimental
 conditions. Data in 'PUMA_metadata_nestlevel'
 were collected by observing nest progress and fledge rate for purple
 martin nests in two experimental conditions ("Changes" and
 "No_changes") Data in
 'mass_2016_2017_2018' were collected by weighing purple martin
 nestlings at the time of banding (Date_1, Mass_1) and (for a subset of
 nests) again prior to fledging (Date_2, Mass_2) in nests in two
 experimental conditions ("C" and "E")
 Data in 'full_blood_data.csv' were collected by blood
 sampling purple martin nestlings and measuring hematocrit, triglyceride,
 uric acid, H:L and leukocyte count, along with biometric measurements such
 as nestling mass, age and clutch size.  
description: sticky strips analysis 2018.csv - Data in this file is used to
 test the hypothesis that nests receiving nest material replacements have
 lower abundances of fleas and mites than nests not receiving nest material
 replacements. Nests receiving nest changes are denoted as "Exp"
 and those not receiving replacements are denoted as
 "Con". PUMA_metadata_nestlevel.csv - Data in
 this file is used to test the hypothesis that nests receiving nest
 material replacements have higher fledge rates than nests not receiving
 nest material replacements. Nests receiving nest changes are denoted as
 "Changes" and those not receiving replacements are denoted as
 "No_changes" mass_2016_2017_2018.csv - Data
 in this file is used to test the hypothesis that nests receiving nest
 material replacements have higher body mass than nests not receiving nest
 material replacements. Nests receiving nest changes are denoted as
 "E" and those not receiving replacements are denoted as
 "C". Nests in cavities are denoted with "C" and nests
 in gourds are denoted with "G"
 full_blood_data.csv -Data in this file is used to test the
 hypothesis that nests receiving nest material replacements have higher
 body condition as reflected in their hematocrit, H:L ratio, white blood
 cell count and plasma triglyceride and uric acid levels than nests not
 receiving nest material replacements. Nests receiving nest changes are
 denoted as "Exp" and those not receiving replacements are
 denoted as "Con". Nests in cavities are denoted with
 "Ca" and nests in gourds are denoted with
 "Go"