scholarly journals Variation in the helminth community structure in bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus) from three comparable localities in the Mazury Lake District region of Poland

Parasitology ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 123 (4) ◽  
pp. 401-414 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. M. BEHNKE ◽  
C. J. BARNARD ◽  
A. BAJER ◽  
D. BRAY ◽  
J. DINMORE ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Community Structure ◽  
Habitat Quality ◽  
The Other ◽  
Clethrionomys Glareolus ◽  
Helminth Parasite ◽  
Component Community ◽  
Parasite Communities ◽  
Host Sex ◽  
Index Of Diversity

We tested the null hypothesis that populations of hosts trapped in isolated neighbouring locations showing comparable habitat quality, should support similar helminth parasite communities. The study was undertaken in a 2-week period in late summer in NE Poland in a single year, thereby eliminating seasonal and between-year variation in parasite burdens. A total of 139 Clethrionomys glareolus (bank vole) were sampled from 3 forest sites of similar habitat quality. Total species richness was 11 (6 nematodes and 5 cestodes) with 85·6% of the voles carrying at least 1 species and an overall mean species richness of 1·4. At the component community level, the fewest species of helminths were recorded from site 2 (n = 6, compared with 9 at each of the other sites), but site 3 had the lowest Berger-Parker Dominance Index and the highest Simpson's Index of Diversity. At the infracommunity level, site 3 had the highest mean no. of helminth species/vole, the highest mean Brillouin's Index of Diversity but the lowest mean no. of helminths/vole. Voles from sites 1 and 3 differed in the nematodes that were most common (site 1, Heligmosomum mixtum – 95%; site 3, Heligmosomoides glareoli – 79·3%). At site 2 no species exceeded 50% but prevalence of Syphacia petrusewiczi was higher than at the other sites. The prevalence of cestodes was too low to test reliably (12·9%), but the highest prevalence of adult cestodes was recorded at site 1 (22·5% compared with 4·9 and 1·7% for sites 2 and 3 respectively). Host sex did not influence infection, but mean species richness increased with age. The different sites were responsible for most of the variation in our data, and the intrinsic factors (sex and age) were less important in shaping the component community structure of helminths. We conclude that even locations in relative close proximity to one another (13–25 km), selected on the basis of similar habitat quality, have rodent populations that differ in their helminth parasite communities, although for reasons other than the factors quantified in the present study.

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.

scholarly journals Medium-term temporal stability of the helminth component community structure in bank voles (Clethrionomys glareolus) from the Mazury Lake District region of Poland

Parasitology ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 130 (2) ◽  
pp. 213-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. BAJER ◽  
J. M. BEHNKE ◽  
A. PAWEŁCZYK ◽  
K. KULIŚ ◽  
M. J. SEREDA ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Community Structure ◽  
Seasonal Variation ◽  
Relative Stability ◽  
Clethrionomys Glareolus ◽  
Host Age ◽  
Wild Rodents ◽  
Component Community ◽  
Bank Voles ◽  
Helminth Communities ◽  
Index Of Diversity

The structure of helminth communities in wild rodents is subject to seasonal variation, and is dependent on host age within years. Although between-year variation has been monitored, seldom has it been assessed rigorously by appropriate multifactorial analysis with potentially confounding factors taken into account. In this study we tested the null hypothesis that despite seasonal, host age and sex effects, helminth communities should show relative stability between years. Over a period of 3 years (1998–2000) we sampled bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus) populations (totaln=250) at 2 points in the year: in spring, at the start of the breeding season, and in autumn, after the cessation of breeding. In spite of seasonal differences and strong age effects, the between-year effects were surprisingly small. Measures of component community structure (Berger-Parker dominance index, the dominant species,S. petrusewiczi) did not vary, or varied only slightly from year to year. The majority of measures of infracommunity structure [Brillouin's index of diversity, prevalence of all helminths combined, prevalence and abundance ofH. mixtum(the most prevalent helminth), mean species richness] did not differ significantly between years when other factors such as age, sex and seasonal variation had been taken into account. Some between-year variations were found (at the component community level, Simpson's index of diversity; at the infracommunity level, prevalence and abundance ofS. petrusewicziand abundance of all helminths combined), but even these were modest in comparison to seasonal and age differences, and were primarily attributable toS. petrusewiczi. We conclude that despite dynamic within-year fluctuations, helminth communities in bank voles in this region of Poland show relative stability across years. The sporadic occurrence of individual platyhelminths at low prevalence, makes little difference to the overall structure, which is largely maintained by the key roles played by the dominant intestinal nematodes of bank voles and the rarer species collectively.

scholarly journals Responses of community structure and diversity to nitrogen deposition and rainfall addition in contrasting steppes are ecosystem-dependent and dwarfed by year-to-year community dynamics

2019 ◽  
Vol 124 (3) ◽  
pp. 461-469 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xuejun Yang ◽  
Zhenying Huang ◽  
Ming Dong ◽  
Xuehua Ye ◽  
Guofang Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Community Structure ◽  
Global Change ◽  
Nitrogen Deposition ◽  
Community Composition ◽  
Community Dynamics ◽  
Environmental Variability ◽  
The Other ◽  
Desert Steppe ◽  
Typical Steppe

Abstract Background and Aims Long-term studies to disentangle the multiple, simultaneous effects of global change on community dynamics are a high research priority to forecast future distribution of diversity. Seldom are such multiple effects of global change studied across different ecosystems. Methods Here we manipulated nitrogen deposition and rainfall at levels realistic for future environmental scenarios in three contrasting steppe types in Mongolia and followed community dynamics for 7 years. Key Results Redundancy analyses showed that community composition varied significantly among years. Rainfall and nitrogen manipulations did have some significant effects, but these effects were dependent on the type of response and varied between ecosystems. Community compositions of desert and meadow steppes, but not that of typical steppe, responded significantly to rainfall addition. Only community composition of meadow steppe responded significantly to nitrogen deposition. Species richness in desert steppe responded significantly to rainfall addition, but the other two steppes did not. Typical steppe showed significant negative response of species richness to nitrogen deposition, but the other two steppes did not. There were significant interactions between year and nitrogen deposition in desert steppe and between year and rainfall addition in typical steppe, suggesting that the effect of the treatments depends on the particular year considered. Conclusions Our multi-year experiment thus suggests that responses of community structure and diversity to global change drivers are ecosystem-dependent and that their responses to experimental treatments are dwarfed by the year-to-year community dynamics. Therefore, our results point to the importance of taking annual environmental variability into account for understanding and predicting the specific responses of different ecosystems to multiple global change drivers.

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

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.

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.

Species richness in helminth communities: the importance of multiple congeners

Parasitology ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 104 (1) ◽  
pp. 189-197 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. R. Kennedy ◽  
A. O. Bush
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
The Other ◽  
Simultaneous Occurrence ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Frequency Of Occurrence ◽  
Congeneric Species ◽  
Aquatic Birds ◽  
Component Community ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Species Flocks

SUMMARYUsing data sets derived from published literature, the contribution of congeneric species to helminth component community richness is evaluated. Consideration of the frequency distribution of congeners in relation to host and parasite groups reveals that the distributions are unimodal, that singletons are the commonest class and that the frequency of occurrence of congeners decreases with increasing number of species per genus. Congeners may be found in any group of hosts or parasites, but are more common amongst cestodes of aquatic birds. Two patterns of occurrence of congeneric species are recognized: one in which from a few to multiple congeners are found within a single helminth genus, exemplified by dactylogyrid monogeneans and cloacinid nematodes, and the other in which there is a simultaneous occurrence of congenerics and confamilials such that there are several genera involved, but each represented by fewer species, exemplified by strongyles in horses. The question of whether these patterns can be considered examples of species flocks is discussed. We conclude that multiple congeners and species flocks are interesting phenomena but, except in isolated cases, they make insignificant contributions to community richness.

Regional versus local helminth parasite richness in British freshwater fish: saturated or unsaturated parasite communities?

Parasitology ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 109 (2) ◽  
pp. 175-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. R. Kennedy ◽  
J.-F. Guégan
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Freshwater Fish ◽  
The Other ◽  
Curvilinear Relationship ◽  
Introduced Fish ◽  
Parasite Communities ◽  
Local Species Richness ◽  
Local Patterns ◽  
Local Species ◽  
The Relationship

SUMMARYThe relationships between regional species richness and local species richness were examined in respect of helminth parasite communities in 32 species of freshwater fish in the British Isles. Fish were divided into 5 categories, for each of which the goodness of fit of the relationship to linear, exponential and power function models was tested. For all categories of fish combined, there was a significant, positive curvilinear relationship. Nested within this were two other patterns. For introduced fish, a linear model provided the best fit; for euryhaline and relict species it was impossible to determine the best model, but for the other categories the relationship was curvilinear and was best fitted by a power function model. The linear relationship found for introduced fish was interpreted as a temporary situation, reflecting the shortage of time for the communities to become saturated. It corresponded to the linear part of the curvilinear relationship of the other categories, which is believed to represent the fundamental form of the relationship for parasite communities. The communities reached a saturation level of richness, corresponding to the asymptote of the curve, which fell well below regional species richness. Explanations for local saturation are discussed, but neither community structure nor supply-side ecology can yet be preferred. It is concluded that local patterns in helminth community richness, in contrast to those in fish assemblages, are not significantly influenced by patterns on a larger, regional spatial scale and so regional species richness is not a key determinant of local species richness, nor does a knowledge of regional patterns improve predictability of local patterns.

Seasonal and site specific variation in the component community structure of intestinal helminths inApodemus sylvaticusfrom three contrasting habitats in south-east England

2000 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 7-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.A. Abu-Madi ◽  
J.M. Behnke ◽  
J.W. Lewis ◽  
F.S. Gilbert
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Intestinal Helminths ◽  
Seasonal Fluctuations ◽  
Site Factors ◽  
Component Community ◽  
Extrinsic Factors ◽  
Site Specific ◽  
Total Species Richness ◽  
Host Sex ◽  
Contrasting Habitats

AbstractSeasonal fluctuations in the prevalence and abundance of infection with intestinal helminths were studied inApodemus sylvaticus(wood mouse,n= 399), from three contrasting habitats in southern England, to test the hypothesis that both intrinsic (host sex, age) and extrinsic (season, site) factors influence parasite species richness and abundance. Five species of helminths were recovered but only one of these (Capillaria murissylvatici) was site-specific (Dungeness). Total species richness was therefore 5 at Dungeness and 4 at the other two sites. Mean species richness was 1.4, but in adult mice there was a pronounced difference between the sites, and an independent highly significant effect of season.Syphacia stromaandCorrigia vittaboth showed marked differences between sites in respect of prevalence and abundance of infection.Capillaria murissylvaticiwas encountered at Dungeness mostly in the spring whereas seasonal changes in abundance ofS. stromawere consistent across all three sites. Seasonal fluctuations in the abundance ofCatenotaenia pusillawere compounded by differences between sites. Host sex was not a significant factor in any species, althougha posteriorianalysis ofS. stromaworm burdens for the Isle of Wight site revealed a moderate local sex effect. Overall the principal determinants of variation in helminth burdens were the extrinsic factors, site and season.

Short-term logging and burning impacts on species richness, abundance and community structure of birds in open eucalypt forest in Western Australia

2003 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 321 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian Abbott ◽  
Amanda Mellican ◽  
Michael D. Craig ◽  
Matthew Williams ◽  
Graeme Liddelow ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Community Structure ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
The Other ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Eucalyptus Marginata ◽  
External Reference ◽  
One Year ◽  
The Impact

In 1985 new silvicultural prescriptions for managing jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) forest in south-west Western Australia came into operation. The most extreme logging treatment (gap release) involved removal of most of the overstorey from patches no larger than 10 ha, followed by a regeneration fire. In the other logging treatment (shelterwood), less wood was removed from a larger area, also followed by a fire. This study examined the impact of these disturbances on the avifauna by monitoring species richness and abundance of birds one year before logging, one year before burning, and for five years after burning. Although 68 bird species were recorded during the seven years of the study, 29 of these were detected fewer than 15 times. Of the other 39 bird species recorded, only two (Gerygone fusca and Acanthiza apicalis) showed a statistically significant treatment effect over time on their abundance. The abundance of G. fusca initially declined in the disturbed treatments and by Year 7 of the study (5 years post-fire) in the gap-release treatment had not recovered its original abundance. A. apicalis increased its abundance in both shelterwood and gap-release treatments. By Year 7, both species in the logged treatments had abundances similar to those in the unlogged treatments. Total abundance of all species varied little across treatments. Species richness was highest by Year 7 in the shelterwood and lowest in the gap-release treatment. In some years community structure varied more at the external-reference sites (not recently logged or burnt) than at the gap-release sites. In particular, there was little overlap in community structure in the external-reference treatment between the first and final years, whereas the pre-logging and final year in the gap-release treatment showed a high degree of overlap. These differences are suggestive of overriding short-term annual variation in broad-scale factors rather than local factors. Yearly variation in rainfall and temperature was documented; during low rainfall periods, populations of foliage arthropods may have been reduced.

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