Feathers spreading good and bad bacteria.

PositionMigratory Birds

One of North America's most common migratory birds--the dark-eyed junco--carries on its feathers a remarkable diversity of plant bacteria, the greatest ever found on wild birds, according to Mark Schneegurt, professor of microbiology, and Chris Rogers, professor of ornithology, at Wichita (Kan.) State University.

While many of these bacteria may be harmful to plants, they also could be of great benefit. That is what Rogers and Schneegurt are working to determine. "How does that balance work out for the plants?" wonders Schneegurt. "That's not clear."

Wild birds interact with the environment, contacting soils and plants with their feathers, which filter the air, gathering particles of soil and plant matter. Because microbes are everywhere in nature, leathers naturally carry a diverse community of them. As for juncos specifically, these migratory birds can fly 200 or more miles a night, making them highly capable of spreading bacteria over large swaths of land.

Pathogens are notoriously costly for agriculture, so the benefits of preventing possible diseases or, conversely, identifying helpful bacteria...

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