Microhabitat preference and coexistence of ectoparasitic arthropods on Alaskan seabirds

1988 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 987-997 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jae C. Choe ◽  
Ke Chung Kim
Keyword(s):  
Interspecific Interactions ◽  
Distribution Patterns ◽  
Dominant Group ◽  
Feather Mites ◽  
New Host ◽  
High Fecundity ◽  
Rissa Tridactyla ◽  
Ixodes Uriae ◽  
Common Murre ◽  
Body Regions

The population structure and distribution patterns of ectoparasitic arthropods on four species of Alaskan seabirds (common murre (Uria aalge), thick-billed murre (Uria lomvia), black-legged kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla), and red-legged kittiwake (Rissa brevirostris)) were studied and interspecific interactions were examined. In most ectoparasite populations on murres and kittiwakes, females predominated. This pattern may be attributable to differences in activity, behavior, and mortality between the sexes of the ectoparasites. Except for feather mites, adults of most ectoparasites were less abundant than immatures. The extremely high relative abundance of immature ticks was probably due to the high fecundity of these organisms and predation pressure. Distribution patterns of adults differed significantly from those of immatures in most louse and tick populations. Populations of lice (Quadraceps obliquus (Mjöberg), Quadraceps ornatus (Grube)) and ticks (Ixodes uriae White) on murres and kittiwakes were highly clumped. The degree of clumping was lower among ectoparasites on murres than among those on kittiwakes. Murres aggregate more and thus provide more opportunities for their ectoparasites to disperse to new host individuals. Ticks were the dominant group of ectoparasites in most body regions. On the wings, however, mites were much more abundant. The wings provided the largest surface area and supported the highest ectoparasite species diversity and population density. The louse and tick populations exhibited distinct patterns of spatial distribution on the host, largely as a result of their distinct preferences for certain microhabitats. However, close competition appears to occur between Q. obliquus and I. uriae on murres, and between the two feather mites, Alloptes (Alloptes) sp. and Laronyssus martini (Trouessart), on kittiwakes.

The abundance and effects of ticks (Ixodes uriae) on nestling Cassin's Auklets (Ptychoramphus aleuticus) at Triangle Island, British Columbia

1996 ◽  
Vol 74 (8) ◽  
pp. 1585-1589 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. E. Morbey
Keyword(s):  
Tick Infestation ◽  
Host Record ◽  
New Host ◽  
Ixodes Uriae ◽  
New Host Record ◽  
Cassin's Auklet ◽  
Peak Mass ◽  
The Common ◽  
Ptychoramphus Aleuticus ◽  
Wing Growth

Cassin's Auklet (Ptychoramphus aleuticus) nestlings hosted the common seabird tick Ixodes uriae. This is a new host record for this species of tick. Ixodes uriae were distributed nonrandomly on nestlings within and among sites. Soil substrate was thought to be an important factor influencing tick distribution. Nestlings with severe tick infestation had slower rates of wing growth, reached peak mass at older ages, and fledged with shorter wings at older ages than nestlings with fewer ticks. By remaining in the nest for longer periods, nestlings with severe tick infestation may have been compensating for the delay in wing development.

scholarly journals Macrozoobenthos in an altitudinal gradient in North Patagonian Cautín River (Araucanía Region, Chile)

2022 ◽  
Vol 82 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Figueroa ◽  
P. De los Rios-Escalante
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Sampling Site ◽  
Benthic Fauna ◽  
Distribution Patterns ◽  
Macroinvertebrate Communities ◽  
Cultural Activity ◽  
Dissolved Oxygen Concentration ◽  
Dominant Group ◽  
Altitudinal Distribution ◽  
Water Quality Indicators

Abstract The Cautín River is closely related with the economic development of Temuco city, (38°S; Chile). Existing knowledge of the Cautín River is limited to information about its biological characteristics as a reference for the evaluation and assessment of water quality. The object of this study was to develop taxonomic characterisation of the benthic macroinvertebrates along the main course of the Cautín River, and to study the community structure using correlation analysis between community parameters. To carry out this research, the macroinvertebrate community was studied in 10 sampling sites distributed along the main course of the river. The samples were taken in summer (1997 and 2000), when optimal hydrological conditions existed. Analysis of the samples showed that the benthic fauna was composed of 56 taxa, the dominant group being insects with 48 taxa. Three main sectors were recognised in the course of the Cautín River: high, middle and low. Each sector has restricted-distribution species, while other species are widely distributed along the river. These distribution patterns seem to be influenced by dissolved oxygen concentration, temperature, altitudinal distribution and anthropo-cultural activity, present at every sampling site. Finally, this research provides a first approach to the biology of the Cautín River. Further studies could be planned on the basis of this knowledge to investigate water quality indicators based on macroinvertebrate communities.

Gruiformes, a New Host Group for Pterodectine Feather Mites (Acarina: Analgoidea)

1977 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Warren T. Atyeo ◽  
J. Gaud
Keyword(s):  
Feather Mites ◽  
New Host ◽  
Host Group

New and little-known species of feather mites (Acari: Analgoidea: Pteronyssidae) from birds in North America

2006 ◽  
Vol 138 (2) ◽  
pp. 165-188 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sergei V. Mironov ◽  
Terry D. Galloway
Keyword(s):  
North America ◽  
Tree Swallow ◽  
Feather Mites ◽  
New Host ◽  
Cliff Swallow ◽  
Northern Flicker ◽  
Picoides Pubescens ◽  
Colaptes Auratus ◽  
First Time ◽  
New Host Records

AbstractIn this paper, we review the pteronyssid feather mites of the genera Pteronyssus Robin, Scutulanyssus Mironov, and Stenopteronyssus Faccini and Atyeo found in the course of an investigation into ectoparasites of birds in Canada. Five new species of feather mites are described: Pteronyssus sphyrapicinussp. nov. from the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Sphyrapicus varius (L.); Stenopteronyssus proctoraesp. nov. from the Northern Flicker, Colaptes auratus (L.); Scutulanyssus progneisp. nov. and Scutulanyssus subissp. nov. from the Purple Martin, Progne subis (L.); and Scutulanyssus petrochelidonissp. nov. from the Cliff Swallow, Petrochelidon pyrrhonota (Vieillot). New host records are provided for Pteronyssus picoides Černy and Schumilo from the Downy Woodpecker, Picoides pubescens (L.), and for Scutulanyssus obscurus (Berlese) from the Cliff Swallow; Pteronyssus brevipes Berlese and Scutulanyssus hirundicolus Mironov are formally recorded in North America for the first time; and Pteronyssus centurus McDaniel and Price is reported for the first time in Canada, from Lewis' Woodpecker, Melanerpes lewis (Gray). Scutulanyssus tyrrelli (Canestrini) is reported for the first time in Manitoba from the Tree Swallow, Tachycineta bicolor (Vieillot). Keys are provided for all species of Pteronyssus and Scutulanyssus found in North America.

Community structure of arthropod ectoparasites on Alaskan seabirds

1987 ◽  
Vol 65 (12) ◽  
pp. 2998-3005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jae C. Choe ◽  
Ke Chung Kim
Keyword(s):  
Community Structure ◽  
General Structure ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Uria Lomvia ◽  
Mixed Species ◽  
Feather Mites ◽  
Chewing Lice ◽  
Rissa Tridactyla ◽  
Common Murres ◽  
Ixodes Ticks

A total of 28 species of arthropods was recovered from 29 common murres (Uria aalge), 8 thick-billed murres (Uria lomvia), 22 black-legged kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla), and 10 red-legged kittiwakes (Rissa brevirostris) collected from the Pribilof Islands, Alaska, U.S.A. The ectoparasite community on each bird species almost invariably consisted of three species of chewing lice, two species of ticks, and five to nine species of mites. Astigmatid feather mites (Alloptes spp., Laronyssus martini (Trouessart)) were the most numerous group of ectoparasites except on black-legged kittiwakes on which Ixodes ticks were the most abundant. The second most abundant taxa were ticks on common murres and thick-billed murres, and quill mites (Syringophilidae) on red-legged kittiwakes. Kittiwakes usually supported more diverse communities of ectoparasites than did murres, probably because of differences in nesting and foraging behavior. Ectoparasite communities between the congeneric species of birds were particularly similar in terms of species composition and general structure, and supported our hypothesis that phylogenetic relatedness of hosts is reflected in similarity of their ectoparasite communities. Community structure of ectoparasites was much more similar between the two murre species than between the two kittiwake species, probably because of gregarious flocking and mixed-species nesting of murres.

Measuring aggregation of parasites at different host population levels

Parasitology ◽  
1996 ◽  
Vol 112 (6) ◽  
pp. 581-587 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Boulinier ◽  
A. R. Ives ◽  
E. Danchin
Keyword(s):  
Epidemiological Studies ◽  
Host Population ◽  
Rissa Tridactyla ◽  
Ixodes Uriae ◽  
Parasite Aggregation

SUMMARYParasites are generally found aggregated among hosts. In this paper we propose a method for measuring aggregation at different scales in the host population. We use the method to characterize the pattern of aggregation of the tick Ixodes uriae on chicks of its seabird host, the Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla. We found evidence of aggregation at the among-nest scale, but not among chicks within nests. This shows that the processes leading to aggregation occur at a higher scale than the nest. The methods we develop provide a way to compare parasite aggregation at different scales in a quantitative fashion and can be applied in a large number of epidemiological studies.

scholarly journals Circumpolar diversification of the Ixodes uriae tick virome

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
John H.-O. Pettersson ◽  
Patrik Ellström ◽  
Jiaxin Ling ◽  
Ingela Nilsson ◽  
Sven Bergström ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Migratory Birds ◽  
Rna Viruses ◽  
Geographic Distance ◽  
Blood Feeding ◽  
Gentoo Penguin ◽  
Microbial Evolution ◽  
Evolutionary Patterns ◽  
Ixodes Uriae ◽  
Common Murre ◽  
Northern And Southern Hemispheres

AbstractTicks (order: Ixodida) are a highly diverse and ecologically important group of ectoparasitic blood-feeding organisms. One such species, the seabird tick (Ixodes uriae), is widely distributed around the circumpolar regions of the northern and southern hemispheres. It has been suggested that Ix. uriae spread from the southern to the northern circumpolar region millions of years ago and has remained isolated in these regions ever since. Such a profound biographic subdivision provides a unique opportunity to determine whether viruses associated with ticks exhibit the same evolutionary patterns as their hosts. To test this, we collected Ix. uriae specimens near a Gentoo penguin (Pygoscelis papua) colony at Neko harbour, Antarctica, and from migratory birds - the Razorbill (Alca torda) and the Common murre (Uria aalge) - on Bonden island, northern Sweden. Through meta-transcriptomic next- generation sequencing we identified 16 RNA viruses, seven of which were novel. Notably, we detected the same species, Ronne virus, and two closely related species, Bonden virus and Piguzov virus, in both hemispheres indicating that there have been at least two cross- circumpolar dispersal events. Similarly, we identified viruses discovered previously in other locations several decades ago, including Gadgets Gully virus, Taggert virus and Okhotskiy virus. By identifying the same or closely related viruses in geographically disjunct sampling locations we therefore provide evidence for virus dispersal within and between the circumpolar regions. In marked contrast, our phylogenetic analysis revealed no movement of the Ix. uriae hosts between the same locations. Combined, these data suggest that migratory birds are responsible for the movement of viruses at both the local and global scales.Author summary/ImportanceAs host populations diverge, so may those microorganisms, including viruses, that are dependent on those hosts. To examine this key issue in host-microbial evolution we compared the co-phylogenies of the seabird tick, Ixodes uriae, and their RNA viruses sampled from the far northern and southern hemispheres. Despite the huge geographic distance between them, phylogeographic analysis reveals that the same viruses were found both within and between the northern and southern circumpolar regions, most likely reflecting transfer by virus-infected migratory birds. In contrast, genomic data suggested that the Ix. uriae populations were phylogenetically distinct between the northern and southern hemispheres. This work emphasises the importance of migratory birds and ticks as vectors and sources of virus dispersal and introduction at both the local and global scales.

Helminth parasites of alcids in the northwestern North Atlantic

1971 ◽  
Vol 49 (4) ◽  
pp. 461-466 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Threlfall
Keyword(s):  
North Atlantic ◽  
Parasite Burden ◽  
Helminth Parasites ◽  
Uria Lomvia ◽  
New Host ◽  
Alca Torda ◽  
Annual Variations ◽  
Common Murre ◽  
Fratercula Arctica ◽  
Cepphus Grylle

One thousand and one alcids of six species (Alca torda, Uria aalge, Uria lomvia, Plautus alle, Cepphus grylle, Fratercula arctica) were collected in the northwestern North Atlantic, during the period June, 1966 – September, 1969, and examined for parasites. Helminths belonging to 12 genera were recovered, the common murre (U. aalge) containing the greatest number of species. Statistically significant annual variations (P < 005) in the parasite burden of this species were noted. No differences in intensity of infection in male and female birds and in chicks and adults were detected. Twelve new host records are noted.

scholarly journals Survival, Growth, and Reproduction: Comparison of Marbled Crayfish with Four Prominent Crayfish Invaders

Biology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 422
Author(s):  
Antonín Kouba ◽  
Boris Lipták ◽  
Jan Kubec ◽  
Martin Bláha ◽  
Lukáš Veselý ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Interspecific Interactions ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Freshwater Crayfish ◽  
Sympatric Populations ◽  
Intraspecific Interactions ◽  
High Fecundity ◽  
Signal Crayfish ◽  
Early Maturation ◽  
Red Swamp Crayfish ◽  
Marbled Crayfish

Biological invasions are increasingly recognized ecological and economic threats to biodiversity and are projected to increase in the future. Introduced freshwater crayfish in particular are protruding invaders, exerting tremendous impacts on native biodiversity and ecosystem functioning, as exemplified by the North American spiny-cheek, signal and red swamp crayfish as well as the Australian common yabby. The marbled crayfish is among the most outstanding freshwater crayfish invaders due to its parthenogenetic reproduction combined with early maturation and high fecundity. As their introduced ranges expand, their sympatric populations become more frequent. The question of which species and under what circumstances will dominate in their introduced communities is of great interest to biodiversity conservation as it can offer valuable insights for understanding and prioritization of management efforts. In order to examine which of the aforementioned species may be more successful as an invader, we conducted a set of independent trials evaluating survival, growth, claw injury, and reproduction using single-species stocks (intraspecific interactions) and mixed stocks (interspecific interactions) of marbled crayfish vs. other crayfish invaders since the onset of exogenous feeding. In both single and mixed stocks, red swamp crayfish and yabby grew faster than marbled crayfish, while marbled crayfish were superior to both spiny-cheek and signal crayfish in terms of growth. With the exception of signal crayfish, the faster-growing species consistently reached a higher survival rate. The faster-growing species tended to negatively impair smaller counterparts by greater claw injury, delayed maturation, and reduced fecundity. Only marbled crayfish laid eggs as early as 14 weeks in this study, which is earlier than previously reported in the literature. Thus, the success of marbled crayfish among invasive crayfish is significantly driven by relatively fast growth as well as an early and frequent reproduction. These results shed light on how interactions between invasive populations can unfold when their expansion ranges overlap in the wild, thereby contributing to the knowledge base on the complex population dynamics between existing and emerging invasive species.

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