Assessing the long-term impacts of chronic infection with avian malaria in Hawai‘i ‘amakihi

AOS Student Research Grant Seminar

Presenter: Emma Stierhoff, M.Sc. graduate, University of Hawai‘i; AOS 2022 Student Research Grant winner

While Hawaiʻi ʻamakihi have demonstrated lower mortality to acute infection with avian malaria than other native honeycreepers, little is known about the impacts after this acute stage, as they remain chronically infected with low-level parasitemia. Research done by scientists at the University of Hawaiʻi, National Parks Service, and United States Geological Survey in Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park over the course of three years elucidated some of these effects. Results from this study suggest that Hawaiʻi ʻamakihi surviving the acute stage of infection may not suffer negative long-term impacts to their fitness.

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