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.

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.

scholarly journals Helminth Parasite Communities of Two Scorpaena spp. (Scorpaenidae) From Reefs of Veracruz, Mexico

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. 504
Author(s):  
Jesús Montoya-Mendoza ◽  
Sandra Edith Badillo-López ◽  
Isabel Araceli Amaro-Espejo ◽  
María del Refugio Castañeda-Chávez ◽  
Fabiola Lango-Reynoso ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Community Structure ◽  
National Park ◽  
Common Species ◽  
Shannon Index ◽  
Marine Fishes ◽  
Helminth Community ◽  
Component Community ◽  
Parasite Communities ◽  
Southern Gulf Of Mexico

Scorpaena brasiliensis and S. plumieri are relevant fish species in reef systems, but little is known about their parasitic helminth communities and their structure. This paper describes such community in terms of species richness and diversity. A helminthological study was conducted on 33 specimens of S. brasiliensis and 36 S. plumieri, captured in the Pajaros and Cabezo Reefs, in the Veracruz Reef System National Park (VRSNP), Veracruz, Mexico. The helminth community structure was analyzed in both host species. A total of 10 parasitic species was registered in S. brasiliensis (5 digeneans, 1 cestode, 3 nematodes, 1 acanthocephalan), while S. plumieri hosted 11 species (4 digeneans, 1 monogenean, 1 cestode, 4 nematodes, 1 acanthocephalan), with 8 common species. The species with the highest prevalence were Pseudocapillaria (Icthyocapillaria) sp., with 18.2% and 19.4% in S. brasiliensis and S. plumieri, respectively. Component community richness for S. brasiliensis was S = 10, with Shannon index diversity value of H’ = 2.08. For S. plumieri, such values were of S = 11 and H’ = 1.91. Richness and diversity in the component and infracommunity levels for both hosts are lower than in other parasite communities of marine fishes in the southern Gulf of Mexico.

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.

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 helminth community of the skink Chalcides sexlineatus from Gran Canaria (Canary Islands)

2011 ◽  
Vol 86 (2) ◽  
pp. 237-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Roca ◽  
M.A. Carretero ◽  
F. Jorge ◽  
A. Perera ◽  
A. Ferrero ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Diversity ◽  
Canary Islands ◽  
Parasite Species ◽  
Intestinal Parasites ◽  
Helminth Community ◽  
Gran Canaria ◽  
Species Richness And Diversity ◽  
Gastrointestinal Helminth ◽  
Helminth Communities

AbstractA survey of the gastrointestinal helminth communities of a population of Chalcides sexlineatus Steindachner, a small skink endemic to Gran Canaria island (Canary Archipelago, Spain), was conducted to determine the prevalence, abundance and species diversity of intestinal parasites in these reptiles. Only three parasite species were found, one cestode, Oochoristica agamae Baylis, 1919 and two nematodes, Parapharyngodon micipsae (Seurat, 1917) and Pharyngodonidae gen. sp. Helminth infracommunities of C. sexlineatus showed low values of abundance and species richness and diversity, being more similar to the helminth community of Tarentola boettgeri boettgeri (Steindachner) rather than those of Gallotia stehlini (Schenkel), both syntopic with the sampled host.

The intestinal helminth community of the spiny-tailed lizard Darevskia rudis (Squamata, Lacertidae) from northern Turkey

2015 ◽  
Vol 90 (2) ◽  
pp. 144-151 ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Roca ◽  
F. Jorge ◽  
Ç. Ilgaz ◽  
Y. Kumlutaş ◽  
S.H. Durmuş ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Intestinal Parasites ◽  
Nematode Species ◽  
The Other ◽  
Intestinal Helminth ◽  
Helminth Community ◽  
Parasite Abundance ◽  
Lacertid Lizard ◽  
Helminth Communities ◽  
Lacertid Lizards ◽  
Interpopulation Variation

AbstractPopulations of the lizard Darevskia rudis (Bedriaga, 1886) from northern Anatolia were examined for intestinal parasites in adult specimens. One cestode, Nematotaenia tarentolae López-Neyra, 1944 and four nematode species, Spauligodon saxicolae Sharpilo, 1962, Skrjabinelazia hoffmanni Li, 1934, Oswaldocruzia filiformis (Goeze, 1782) and Strongyloides darevskyi Sharpilo, 1976, were found. Three of these nematodes, S. saxicolae, S. hoffmanni and S. darevskyi are suggested to be part of a module in the network of Darevskia spp. and their parasites. Only one, S. darevskyi, was identified as a Darevskia spp. specialist. The very low infection and diversity parameters are indicative of the depauperate helminth communities found in this lacertid lizard, falling among the lowest within the Palaearctic saurians. Nevertheless these values are higher than those found in parthenogenetic Darevskia spp. Interpopulation variation in the intensity of S. saxicolae and N. tarentolae is attributable to local changes in ecological conditions. On the other hand, parasite abundance and richness increased in the warmer localities, while the effect of lizard sex and size on infection was negligible. The structure of these helminth communities in D. rudis are compared with those observed in other European lacertid lizards.

scholarly journals First report of the intestinal helminth community in the broad-headed spiny-rat Clyomys laticeps (Rodentia, Echimyidae)

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernanda Oliveira Rodrigues ◽  
Natália Oliveira Leiner ◽  
Claire Pauline Röpke Ferrando ◽  
Beatriz Elise de Andrade-Silva ◽  
Rosana Gentile ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Community Structure ◽  
Nematode Species ◽  
First Record ◽  
Intestinal Helminth ◽  
Helminth Community ◽  
New Host ◽  
First Report ◽  
Central Brazil ◽  
Prevalent Species ◽  
New Host Species

Abstract The broad-headed spiny rat, Clyomys laticeps, is an echimyid rodent found in open areas of Cerrado and Pantanal biomes in central Brazil and Paraguay. Little is known about the parasites associated with this semi-fossorial species, as no previous studies have been conducted on their helminth fauna. The aim of this study was to report the helminth community structure of C. laticeps inhabiting Serra de Caldas Novas State Park, a Cerrado area in central Brazil. Trappings were carried out in dry grasslands from January to October 2016, and the large and small intestines of 14 C. laticeps individuals were examined for the presence of helminths. Three nematode species were found: Fuellebornema almeidai, Pterygodermatites (Paucipectines) sp., and Subulura forcipata, and 85.7% of the studied species were infected with at least one of these helminths. F. almeidai was the most prevalent species among hosts, and S. forcipata was the most abundant. This study is the first report on helminth community structure in C. laticeps. We report a new host species and increase the known geographical range of F. almeidai, and provide the first record of Pterygodermatites (Paucipectines) sp. infecting echimyids. This is also the first report of S. forcipata in a mammal host.

The Effect of Anthropization on Sarcophagidae (Diptera: Calyptratae) Community Structure: An Assessment on Different Types of Habitats in the Humid Chaco Ecoregion of Argentina

2020 ◽  
Vol 57 (5) ◽  
pp. 1468-1479 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matias I Dufek ◽  
Dario D Larrea ◽  
Miryam P Damborsky ◽  
Pablo R Mulieri
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Community Structure ◽  
Habitat Type ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Cattle Farm ◽  
Species Richness And Diversity ◽  
Environmental Impact Assessments ◽  
Spatial Turnover ◽  
Main Driver

Abstract Sarcophagidae (Diptera) are of great interest from a veterinary, medical, and forensic viewpoint, and are potential bioindicators for environmental impact assessments. In this study, we evaluated changes in abundance, species richness, and diversity of flesh flies in different habitat types in the Humid Chaco ecoregion of South America: 1) anthropized habitats: urban, cattle farm, and alfalfa crop, and 2) natural habitats: savanna and forest. We hypothesized that sarcophagid fly community parameters are affected by the anthropization and that spatial turnover will contribute more to the overall beta diversity than nestedness between habitats. In each habitat, samplings were conducted monthly from March 2015 to February 2016 in 25 sites, 5 per habitat, totaling 300 independent samples at the end of the study. We collected 5,790 Sarcophagidae (55 species). Community parameters of Sarcophagidae were evaluated and compared. The ecological effects of anthropization and habitat type were observed in the present study. As expected, our results showed the highest abundance, species richness, and diversity in the savanna and forest habitats (natural), whereas the lowest values were registered in the urban and alfalfa crop habitats, supporting the hypotheses of anthropization as the main driver of diversity loss. In addition, sarcophagid assemblages differed between all habitats and the overall dissimilarity was structured by spatial turnover. The main conclusion of this research is that flesh fly community structure is greatly affected by anthropization and habitat type, and this would be related to canopy cover and microclimate conditions of each environment.

scholarly journals Helminth community structure study on urban and forest blackbird (Turdus merula L.) populations in relation to seasonal bird migration on the south Baltic Sea coast (NW Poland)

2014 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 117-129 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. Rząd ◽  
J. Sitko ◽  
R. Sałamatin ◽  
D. Wysocki
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Community Structure ◽  
Bird Migration ◽  
Natural Habitat ◽  
Structure Study ◽  
Helminth Fauna ◽  
Urban Habitat ◽  
Helminth Community ◽  
Intensity Of Infection ◽  
Sea Coast

Abstract The aim of the study was to compare helminth community structure of urban and forest blackbird populations. 24 helminth species in 98 blackbirds were found. Higher species richness was noted in the forest population of the blackbird (23 species) in comparison to the urban population (14 species). The response of the helminth fauna to a synanthropic habitat, contrary to a natural habitat, consists in a significant reduction in most parasitological parameters. Higher species richness has been noted in spring (17 species) than in autumn (14 species). Urban habitat, in contrast to the forest, may cause changes in the abundance of helminth communities in male and female blackbirds. The helminth fauna of nestlings, in spite of low species richness is characterized by a higher prevalence and intensity of infection in comparison to blackbirds feeding on their own. Helminth fauna of the blackbird seems to be a good indicator of environmental quality.

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.

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