Humans, urban landscapes increase illness in songbirds, researchers find

Date: February 5, 2014

Source: Arizona State University

Summary: Humans living in densely populated urban areas have a profound impact not only on their physical environment, but also on the health and fitness of native wildlife. For the first time, scientists have found a direct link between the degree of urbanization and the prevalence and severity of two distinct parasites in wild house finches. Loss of natural habitat may be a driving force behind increases in avian parasite infections.

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