Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID 2004ND46B

Effects of West Nile Virus Infection, Immune Function, and Age on Female Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) Reproduction.

Institute: North Dakota
Year Established: 2004 Start Date: 2004-05-16 End Date: 2005-12-31
Total Federal Funds: $6,030 Total Non-Federal Funds: $12,159

Principal Investigators: Wendy Reed, Wendy Reed

Project Summary: The overall objective of this project is to determine the effects of female age and infection with West Nile virus on yellow-headed blackbird reproduction. The specific objectives of the research are to identify the prevalence of WNV in a free-living population of yellow-headed blackbirds, to quantify variation in immune function of female blackbirds, and to measure the relationship between female immune function, WNV infection, and age on carotenoid allocation to eggs. These objectives will allow us to evaluate potential relations between wetland bird WNV infection and increased aquatic habitat for breeding mosquitoes in North Dakota.