Diversity patterns in helminth communities in common gulls, Larus canus

Parasitology ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 98 (3) ◽  
pp. 439-445 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. R. Kennedy ◽  
T. A. Bakke
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Parasite Community ◽  
Community Diversity ◽  
Intestinal Helminth ◽  
Component Community ◽  
Core Species ◽  
Helminth Communities ◽  
Species Lists ◽  
High Species Richness ◽  
Abundance And Diversity

SUMMARYThe parameters of species richness, abundance and diversity of the intestinal helminth infracommunities of a sample of 269 Common gulls, Larus canus, were examined over one season at Agdenes, Norway. The communities developed rapidly in unfledged gulls and the diversity parameters were of similar magnitude in immature and adult birds. All parameters were low in the early part of the season, reached maxima in June or July and fluctuated erratically or declined thereafter. Comparison of summary parameters with those from other species of gulls indicated that helminth community diversity in Common gulls is fairly typical of gulls in general. In gulls as a group, helminth communities show common features of high species richness, low abundance, few or no core species and a number of species that occur rarely and in low numbers. Expectations of particularly high parasite community diversity were not fully realised because species lists and diversity of the component community are not a very good basis for predicting diversity at the infracommunity level.

The dynamics of intestinal helminth communities in eels Anguilla anguilla in a small stream: long-term changes in richness and structure

Parasitology ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 107 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-78 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. R. Kennedy
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Community Structure ◽  
Recovery Period ◽  
Intestinal Helminth ◽  
Helminth Community ◽  
Component Community ◽  
Small Stream ◽  
Habitat Changes ◽  
Species Richness And Diversity ◽  
Helminth Communities

SummaryThe prediction that species richness and diversity of intestinal helminth communities in eels would change over time in response to habitat changes was tested over a period of 13 years in a small stream subjected to extensive human management. Nearly all measures of helminth community structure adopted indicated a decline in richness and diversity over the first 6 years followed by a recovery over the last few years to levels unexpectedly close to those at the start of the investigation. Changes in total number of species suggested that the component community was far richer (from 3–9 species) at the end of the period. By contrast, changes in diversity and dominance measures revealed less variation than expected and suggested that there was an underlying stability of community structure characterized by high dominance by a single species, although the identity of this changed, low diversity and a large proportion of the eel population harbouring 0 or only 1 species. A similar pattern of changes was recorded in the infra-communities, where values of species richness and diversity were very similar at the commencement and termination of the study. It appeared that those helminths that colonized in the recovery period contributed to community richness but had little impact on community structure. The helminth communities clearly did change in response to habitat changes, and the evidence for a fixed number of niches and an underlying constancy in helminth community structure in eels is evaluated.

Long-term stability in the richness and structure of helminth communities in eels, Anguilla anguilla, in Lough Derg, River Shannon, Ireland

2002 ◽  
Vol 76 (4) ◽  
pp. 315-322 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.R. Kennedy ◽  
C. Moriarty
Keyword(s):  
Community Diversity ◽  
Large Rivers ◽  
Small Rivers ◽  
Intestinal Helminth ◽  
Helminth Parasites ◽  
Component Community ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Helminth Communities ◽  
Composition And Structure ◽  
Acanthocephalus Lucii

AbstractA data set on intestinal helminth parasites was collected in the course of an 18 year investigation into the biology of eels in Meelick Bay, Lough Derg, River Shannon. This was used to test two hypotheses relating to the composition and structure of intestinal helminth communities, namely that eels in large rivers do not harbour richer and more diverse communities than those in small rivers but that community composition and structure are more stable over time than in small rivers. The helminth community was species poor, with only six species comprising the component community and a maximum infracommunity richness of three species. The community was overwhelmingly dominated by the acanthocephalan Acanthocephalus lucii, reflecting the importance of its intermediate host Asellus aquaticus in the eels' diet. The remaining helminth species contributed to species richness but made very little contribution to community diversity. Population levels of Acanthocephalus lucii fell and remained low between 1992 and 2000, probably reflecting increased movement of eels from other parts of the lough into Meelick Bay. Diversity values were low, but similar to those reported from other rivers in Britain and Europe. The results provided support for both hypotheses and indicated that in respect of richness, diversity and dominance, the helminth communities of eels in the River Shannon were typical of, and comparable to, those of other large rivers throughout Europe.

Long-term investigation of the composition and richness of intestinal helminth communities in the stocked population of eel, Anguilla anguilla, in Neusiedler See, Austria

Parasitology ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 130 (2) ◽  
pp. 185-194 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. SCHABUSS ◽  
C. R. KENNEDY ◽  
R. KONECNY ◽  
B. GRILLITSCH ◽  
F. SCHIEMER ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sampling Site ◽  
Anguilla Anguilla ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Parasite Community ◽  
Community Diversity ◽  
Intestinal Helminth ◽  
Infection Level ◽  
Component Community ◽  
Long Term Study

Data from a long-term study of the intestinal helminth parasite community of eels, Anguilla anguilla, stocked into the shallow eutrophic Neusiedler See, Austria, were collected over an 8 year period (1994–2001). In total, 720 eels from 2 sampling sites were examined. The parasite community showed characteristics similar to those in the natural eel populations in rivers of the UK and mainland Europe: it was species poor, with only 5 species (Acanthocephalus lucii, Acanthocephalus anguillae, Raphidascaris acus, Proteocephalus macrocephalus, Bothriocephalus claviceps) comprising the component community and a maximum infracommunity richness of 4 species. Over the period, the intestinal parasite community of the sampling site in Illmitz, which was originally dominated by A. lucii, changed. As levels of A. anguillae increased to a point at which it dominated the community, diversity increased whilst dominance of a single species decreased. By contrast the community in the southern sampling site remained rather constant with a continuous high infection level of A. anguillae and low abundance of A. lucii. Both acanthocephalan species exhibited higher infection levels in larger eels and in different seasons of the year and the infection parameters were significantly different between the years of study. The significant differences in the infection levels of the 2 acanthocephalan species at the 2 sampling sites were surprising as both acanthocephalan species use the same intermediate host, Asellus aquaticus, and the sampling sites were in close proximity and were similar in terms of water quality, host size and invertebrate abundance. Differences in the fish communities of the 2 sampling sites and eel movements rather than interspecific competition are discussed as possible explanations for the differences in the parasite communities of the 2 sampling sites.

scholarly journals Structure in parasite component communities in wild rodents: predictability, stability, associations and interactions .... or pure randomness?

Parasitology ◽  
2008 ◽  
Vol 135 (7) ◽  
pp. 751-766 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. BEHNKE
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Wild Rodents ◽  
Heligmosomoides Polygyrus ◽  
Wood Mice ◽  
Core Species ◽  
Helminth Communities ◽  
Immune Mediated ◽  
Concurrent Infections

SUMMARYExperimental data establish that interactions exist between species of intestinal helminths during concurrent infections in rodents, the strongest effects being mediated through the host's immune responses. Detecting immune-mediated relationships in wild rodent populations has been fraught with problems and published data do not support a major role for interactions in structuring helminth communities. Helminths in wild rodents show predictable patterns of seasonal, host age-dependent and spatial variation in species richness and in abundance of core species. When these are controlled for, patterns of co-infection compatible with synergistic interactions can be demonstrated. At least one of these, the positive relationship betweenHeligmosomoides polygyrusand species richness of other helminths has been demonstrated in three totally independent data-sets. Collectively, they explain only a small percentage of the variance/deviance in abundance data and at this level are unlikely to play a major role in structuring helminth communities, although they may be important in the more heavily infected wood mice. Current worm burdens underestimate the possibility that earlier interactions through the immune system have taken place, and therefore interactions may have a greater role to play than is immediately evident from current worm burdens. Longitudinal studies are proposed to resolve this issue.

Intestinal helminth parasites in flounderPlatichthys flesusfrom the River Thames: an infracommunity analysis

2004 ◽  
Vol 78 (4) ◽  
pp. 297-303 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Guillen-Hernandez ◽  
P.J. Whitfield
Keyword(s):  
Parasite Species ◽  
Parasite Community ◽  
Intestinal Helminth ◽  
Helminth Parasites ◽  
Intermediate Hosts ◽  
Component Community ◽  
Parasite Communities ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Marine Influence ◽  
River Thames

AbstractAn analysis was undertaken of intestinal helminth communities in flounderPlatichthys flesusfrom two sites on the River Thames. A comparison was made between helminth community richness and diversity from these sites at the component and infracommunity levels. At the component community level, a richer and more diverse parasite community was found in flounder from the Tilbury location (marine influence) than that from the Lots Road location (freshwater influence). At the infracommunity level, more parasite species and parasite individuals per host were found at Lots Road and the percentage of similarity values were low at both locations. Helminth species with high prevalence values in the parasite communities of the flounder are the dominant species in any individual fish, harbouring multi-specific infections. The presence of more invertebrate species, which are intermediate hosts in the helminth life cycle in the Thames, fish vagility and the high prevalence and abundance values ofPomphorhynchus laevisin the flounder, may explain the differences between the two locations.

scholarly journals Community structure analysis of endoparasitic helminths of Anabas testudineus from unpolluted and polluted sites of a freshwater body of Dhaka

2014 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-38
Author(s):  
Md Osman Ghani ◽  
Aminul Islam Bhuiyan ◽  
Jannatul Bushra
Keyword(s):  
Community Structure ◽  
Parasite Species ◽  
Parasite Community ◽  
Community Diversity ◽  
Polluted Water ◽  
Component Community ◽  
Anabas Testudineus ◽  
Host Sex ◽  
Host Habitat ◽  
Insignificant Difference

Community structure of metazoan endoparasites of Anabas testudineus collected from an unpolluted and a polluted water body was determined. Out of 100 A. testudineus observed, 78% was parasitized by at least one species of endohelminth parasite. Eight metazoan endoparasites were recorded. Nematode showed higher prevalence than trematode. One species was accounted as satellite species and others as secondary. Larger hosts were more abundantly infected than the smaller ones as positive correlation was observed between the standard length of the hosts and the abundance/ prevalence of all parasites. Maximum parasite species followed a typical overdispersed type of distribution pattern. Parasite species richness was lower in fish from polluted (4) than unpolluted water (6). Per cent similarity of infestation between the sample hosts was high (55.73%). Three common parasite species from both sample hosts showed insignificant difference in intensity of infestation in relation to host habitat. Host sex had influenced infestation at infra?community but not at component community level. Interspecies association between parasites was strong in fish from unpolluted in comparision from polluted water. Host’s habitat quality also played an influential role in building parasite community, diversity and other associated community indices. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/dujbs.v23i1.19823 Dhaka Univ. J. Biol. Sci. 23(1): 27-38, 2014

The parasite community infecting flounders, Platichthys flesus, in the tidal Thames

1999 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
pp. 203-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
H.E.M. El-Darsh ◽  
P.J. Whitfield
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Parasite Species ◽  
Parasite Community ◽  
Parasite Fauna ◽  
Component Community ◽  
Species List ◽  
Pomphorhynchus Laevis ◽  
Platichthys Flesus ◽  
First Time ◽  
Middle Estuary

The composition of the parasite fauna of the flounder,Platichthys flesus, retrieved from two locations in the tidal Thames is described in detail for the first time. The combined parasite species list of the flounders from Lots Road in the upper tideway and West Thurrock in the middle tideway consisted of one protozoan (Glugea stephani), one monogenean (Gyrodactylussp.), four larval digeneans (Cryptocotyle concava,Timoniella imbutiforme,T. praeterita, andLabratrema minimus), five adult digeneans (Derogenes varicus,Lecithaster gibbosus,Podocotylesp.,Plagioporus varius, andZoogonoides viviparus), one larval cestode (unidentified tetraphyllidean), one or possibly more larval nematodes (unidentified) plus five adult nematodes (Capillariasp.,Cucullanus heterochrous,C. minutus,Contracaecumsp. andGoeziasp.), two acanthocephalans (Pomphorhynchus laevisandAcanthocephalus anguillae), three copepods (Lepeophtheirus pectoralis,Acanthochondriasp. andLernaeocera branchialis), and one mollusc (unidentified glochidia). The overall parasite community of flounders from Lots Road and West Thurrock were compared in terms of species richness and diversity. The parasite community in flounders from the former location in the upper tideway was found to be less diverse than that of its counterpart at West Thurrock in the middle estuary. The component community of Lots Road flounders was dominated by the acanthocephalanPomphorhynchus laevis.

scholarly journals Variation in the helminth community structure in spiny mice (Acomys dimidiatus) from four montane wadis in the St Katherine region of the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt

Parasitology ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 129 (3) ◽  
pp. 379-398 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. BEHNKE ◽  
P. D. HARRIS ◽  
A. BAJER ◽  
C. J. BARNARD ◽  
N. SHERIF ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Life Histories ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Helminth Community ◽  
Component Community ◽  
New Host ◽  
Helminth Communities ◽  
Spiny Mice ◽  
Host Sex ◽  
Acomys Dimidiatus

We compared helminth communities in spiny mice (Acomys dimidiatus) from 4 wadis in the arid montane region of the southern Sinai in Egypt, in a 4-week period in late summer. Total helminth species richness was 14 (8 nematodes, 5 cestodes and 1 acanthocephalan) with 94% of mice carrying at least 1 species and an overall mean species richness of 1·85. The most prevalent parasites wereProtospirura muricola(47·8%) andDentostomella kuntzi(46·3%). One larval cestode,Joyeuxiella rossicum, represents a new host record. The helminth community was dominated by intestinal nematodes (88·7%) of which 58·2% were arthropod-transmitted heteroxenic species. At the component community level, 70% of the worms were recovered from mice in just two wadis (Gharaba and Tlah) and 48·6% of intestinal nematodes were from Wadi Gharaba. Although only 7 species of helminths were recorded from Wadi Gharaba, this site gave the highest Berger-Parker dominance index because ofP. muricola. P. muricolawas also dominant in Wadi El Arbaein whilstSyphacia minutawas the dominant species in Wadis Gebal and Tlah. At the infracommunity level, mean species richness and Brillouin's index of diversity were highest in Wadi Tlah and lowest in Wadi Gebal, and the former was age dependent. Whilst mice from different wadis differed in the nematodes that were most common, those from Wadi Gharaba carried the highest mean number of worms/mouse. The abundance ofP. muricolain particular varied markedly between sites: Wadi Gharaba was distinct as the site showing the highest mean worm burden whereas mice from Wadi Gebal were uninfected. None of the directly transmitted oxyuroid nematodes showed significant variation in abundance between wadis, or host sex or age classes. Overall, the single extrinsic factor in the study, site of capture, was more important than the intrinsic factors in explaining variation in helminth communities in the region. We conclude that in the high mountains of southern Sinai, each wadi is distinct in terms of its rodent parasites, and hence we expect spatially different coevolutionary pressures on their hosts, with resultant variation in life-histories.

Composition and structure of helminth communities in eels Anguilla anguilla from Italian coastal lagoons

1997 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-40 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.R. Kennedy ◽  
D. Di Cave ◽  
F. Berrilli ◽  
P. Orecchia
Keyword(s):  
Coastal Lagoons ◽  
Anguilla Anguilla ◽  
Structural Similarity ◽  
Helminth Species ◽  
Community Level ◽  
Intestinal Helminth ◽  
Helminth Community ◽  
Component Community ◽  
Helminth Communities ◽  
Composition And Structure

AbstractThe composition and diversity of total and intestinal helminth component and infracommunities were determined in eels Anguilla anguilla from four shallow coastal lagoons near Rome. The lagoons differed principally in respect of their salinity. Only Lake Burano still received an input of freshwater, and both freshwater and marine helminth species were found in eels. In the other three lagoons all helminth species were marine or euryhaline and communities were dominated by digeneans. At component community level these three lagoons were far more similar to each other than to Lake Burano, but this distinction almost disappeared at infracommunity level. Species richness and diversity declined with increasing salinity at component community level but not at infracommunity level. Despite the changes and differences in helminth community composition, intestinal helminth infracommunity structure was very similar in all four lagoons and to that in eels from freshwater localities in Britain. The findings thus provide further and unexpected support for the view that some factor(s) other than supply side ones must be operating to produce the fundamental structural similarity in helminth communities in eels.

Patterns and determinants of helminth communities in the Acipenseridae (Actinopterygii: Chondrostei), with special reference to the lake sturgeon, Acipenser fulvescens

1998 ◽  
Vol 76 (2) ◽  
pp. 330-349 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anindo Choudhury ◽  
Terry A Dick
Keyword(s):  
Community Diversity ◽  
Aral Sea ◽  
Individual Species ◽  
Acipenser Fulvescens ◽  
Component Community ◽  
Parasite Communities ◽  
Helminth Communities ◽  
Actinopterygian Fishes ◽  
History Of ◽  
High Degree

Patterns, processes, and some hypotheses regarding the structure of helminth communities in freshwater fishes have been investigated using sturgeons (Acipenseridae), a widely distributed group of basal actinopterygian fishes. Analyses at the infracommunity and component-community levels for one species, Acipenser fulvescens, indicated occasionally dense, but isolationist, gut helminth communities with moderate species richness and a high degree of predictability conferred by host-specific helminths that dominated the communities. Largely predictable helminth communities are also characteristic of acipenserids from Siberian and Ponto-Caspian drainages and basins. Although host specificity was the major determinant of helminth community diversity in most acipenserids, exceptions were found in sturgeons of the Aral Sea drainages, where non-host-specific parasites dominated the helminth communities. Gut complexity and evolutionary age were both found to be poor predictors of community richness in sturgeons and other basal actinopterygians. The stochastic component of the gut helminth fauna is determined by shared trophic category and sympatry with other major benthivorous fishes, mainly benthic coregonines in Holarctic drainages and benthic ostariophysans (e.g., cypriniforms) elsewhere. Although some predictions of "evolutionarily mature" communities are partially fulfilled, the authors of this study caution that owing to differences in the biology and history of individual species and groups and the diversity of fishes in general, broad generalizations about the factors shaping fish parasite communities will be difficult to make.

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