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.

scholarly journals Parasites of the Shiny Cowbird, Molothrus bonariensis, and the Austral Blackbird, Curaeus curaeus, (Passeriformes: Icteridae) in Chile

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mabel Mena ◽  
José Osvaldo Valdebenito ◽  
Lucila Moreno ◽  
Danny Fuentes-Castillo ◽  
John Mike Kinsella ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Parasite Species ◽  
New Records ◽  
Horizontal Transmission ◽  
Parasitic Infection ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Parasite Fauna ◽  
Feather Mites ◽  
Chewing Lice ◽  
Molothrus Bonariensis ◽  
In The Wild

Abstract Comparative studies of parasites in sympatric bird species have been generally scarce. Parasitic infection/transmission can be spread in a number of ways that suggests possible direct and indirect, horizontal transmission between avian hosts. In order to determine whether two sympatric icterids from Central and Southern Chile share their parasite fauna (ecto- and endoparasites), we examined parasites of 27 Shiny Cowbirds, Molothrus bonariensis, and 28 Austral Blackbirds, Curaeus curaeus, including individuals captured in the wild and carcasses. We found that Shiny Cowbirds were infected with the chewing lice Brueelia bonariensis, Philopterus sp. 1, the feather mites Amerodectes molothrus, Proctophyllodes spp. (species 1 and 2), and the helminths Mediorhynchus papillosus, Plagiorhynchus sp., Dispharynx nasuta and Tetrameres paucispina, while Austral Blackbirds had the chewing lice Myrsidea sp., Philopterus sp. 2, the feather mites Proctophyllodes sp. 3, Amerodectes sp., and three helminths: Anonchotaenia sp., Capillaria sp. and M. papillosus. The flea Dasypsyllus (Neornipsyllus) cteniopus was found only on the Austral Blackbird. The only parasite species shared by both icterids was the acanthocephalan M. papillosus, possibly due to their feeding on the same intermediate insect hosts. With the exception of B. bonariensis and Philopterus sp. 1 found on the Shiny Cowbird, all species reported in this study represent new parasite-host associations and new records of parasite diversity in Chile.

Bird community structure in natural and urbanized habitats along an altitudinal gradient in Pauri district (Garhwal Himalaya) of Uttarakhand state, India

Biologia ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 67 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Archana Naithani ◽  
Dinesh Bhatt
Keyword(s):  
Community Structure ◽  
Altitudinal Gradient ◽  
Diversity Index ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Bird Community ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
Base Line ◽  
Natural Habitats ◽  
Forest Habitat ◽  
Rarefaction Analysis

AbstractIn the Indian subcontinent there is hardly any study that compares the bird community structure of urban/suburban areas with those of forest habitat. The present survey identified diverse assemblages of birds in the Pauri district at different elevations. A total of 125 bird species belonging to 40 families including two least count species (Lophura leucomelanos and Pucrasia marcolopha) were recorded during this survey in the forest and urbanized habitats of Pauri District (Garhwal Hiamalaya) of Uttarakhand state, India. The high elevation (Pauri 1600–2100 m a.s.l.), mid elevation (Srikot-Khanda 900–1300 m a.s.l.) and low elevation (Srinagar 500–900 m a.s.l.) contributed 88.8%, 63.2% and 58.4% of the total species respectively. Rarefaction analysis and Shannon diversity index showed that the high elevation forest habitat had highest bird species richness (BSR) and bird species diversity (BSD) followed by the mid and then the low elevation forests. BSR and BSD fluctuated across seasons at all elevations but not across habitat types. Present study provides a base line data about avian community composition in urbanized and natural habitats along altitudinal gradient in the study area. This information may be useful to the conservation biologists for the better management and conservation of the avifauna in the Western Himalaya, a part of one of the hot biodiversity spots of the world.

scholarly journals Feather mites (Acari, Astigmata) associated with birds in an Atlantic Forest fragment in Northeastern Brazil

2015 ◽  
Vol 75 (3) ◽  
pp. 726-735 ◽  
Author(s):  
HM Silva ◽  
FA Hernandes ◽  
M Pichorim
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Rio Grande ◽  
Neotropical Region ◽  
Species Level ◽  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Forest Fragment ◽  
Visual Examination ◽  
Feather Mites ◽  
First Time

AbstractThe present study reports associations between feather mites (Astigmata) and birds in an Atlantic Forest fragment in Rio Grande do Norte state, in Brazil. In the laboratory, mites were collected through visual examination of freshly killed birds. Overall, 172 individuals from 38 bird species were examined, between October 2011 and July 2012. The prevalence of feather mites was 80.8%, corresponding to 139 infested individuals distributed into 30 species and 15 families of hosts. Fifteen feather mite taxa could be identified to the species level, sixteen to the genus level and three to the subfamily level, distributed into the families Analgidae, Proctophyllodidae, Psoroptoididae, Pteronyssidae, Xolalgidae, Trouessartiidae, Falculiferidae and Gabuciniidae. Hitherto unknown associations between feather mites and birds were recorded for eleven taxa identified to the species level, and nine taxa were recorded for the first time in Brazil. The number of new geographic records, as well as the hitherto unknown mite-host associations, supports the high estimates of diversity for feather mites of Brazil and show the need for research to increase knowledge of plumicole mites in the Neotropical region.

scholarly journals Effect of Farming and Rainfall on the Species Diversity, Population Density and Community Structure of Birds Breeding in the Kalahari Woodland, NE Namibia

Zoodiversity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 55 (6) ◽  
pp. 451-458
Author(s):  
G. Kopij
Keyword(s):  
Community Structure ◽  
Species Diversity ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Diversity Indices ◽  
Annual Rainfall ◽  
Feeding Guilds ◽  
Line Transect ◽  
Population Densities ◽  
Feeding Guild ◽  
Turtle Dove

The line transect method has been employed to assess species diversity, population densities and community structure of birds breeding in a mosaic of Kalahari Woodland and farmland, NE Namibia. The transect, 4.5 km long, was surveyed in 2014 and 2015. The total annual rainfall in 2014 was much higher than in 2015 (427 mm vs. 262 mm). In total, 40 breeding species in 2014, and 46 in 2015 were recorded. Six species were dominant in 2014 (Cape Turtle Dove, Laughing Dove, Emerald-spotted Dove, Blue Waxbill, and White-browed Scrub Robin) and only three species in 2015 (Cape Turtle Dove and Blue Waxbill and Yellow-fronted Canary). Although the cumulative dominance in 2014 almost doubled that in 2015, the Community Index in both years was almost identical. Also diversity indices and evenness index were very similar in both years compared. Granivorous birds were the most numerous feeding guild. Their contribution was similar in 2014 and 2015 (46.7 % vs. 43.4 %). Two other feeding guilds, insectivores and frugivores, comprised together more than 50 % in both years. The number of bird species and species diversity were not influenced by the differential rainfall. However, contrary to expectations, population densities of most bird species (at least the more numerous ones) were higher in the year with lower than in the year with higher rainfall. The number of species and species diversity was similar in the farmland and in neighbouring Kalahari Woodland in a pristine stage. However, population densities of most species were lower in the farmland than in the pristine woodland.

Ecological segregation among Thick-billed Murres (Uria lomvia) and Common Murres (Uria aalge) in the Northwest Atlantic persists through the nonbreeding season

2015 ◽  
Vol 93 (6) ◽  
pp. 447-460 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. McFarlane Tranquilla ◽  
W.A. Montevecchi ◽  
A. Hedd ◽  
P.M. Regular ◽  
G.J. Robertson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Data ◽  
Uria Aalge ◽  
Uria Lomvia ◽  
Ecological Segregation ◽  
Nonbreeding Season ◽  
Interspecific Differences ◽  
Common Murres ◽  
Movement Strategy ◽  
Wintering Areas ◽  
Latitudinal Range

To study the influence of inter- and intra-specific interactions on patterns of ecological segregation in nonbreeding habitat, we used geolocators to track year-round movements of congeneric and partially sympatric Thick-billed Murres (Uria lomvia (L., 1758)) and Common Murres (Uria aalge (Pontoppidan, 1763)) from seven Canadian colonies during 2007–2011. Locations from 142 individuals were (i) examined for species- and colony-specific spatiotemporal patterns, (ii) mapped with environmental data, and (iii) used to delineate core wintering areas. Compared with Common Murres, Thick-billed Murres dispersed across a wider range of latitudes and environments, had larger winter ranges, and showed greater variation in seasonal timing of movements. These interspecific differences were consistent at two scales: among colonies spanning a wide latitudinal range and at a sympatric colony. Intraspecifically, nonbreeding ecological segregation was more pronounced among colonies of Thick-billed Murres than of Common Murres: colonies of Thick-billed Murres tended to follow distinct movement patterns and segregate by latitude, whereas colonies of Common Murres segregated very little; moreover, the extent of segregation was more variable among Thick-billed Murres than Common Murres. For Thick-billed Murres, rather than complete divergence of winter ecological niche from Common Murres, we found a “widening” of an overlapping niche. This strategy of increased movement flexibility may enable Thick-billed Murres to mitigate competition both intra- and inter-specifically; we propose this movement strategy may have played a role in species divergence.

scholarly journals New records of chewing lice (Insecta, Phthiraptera) from birds of southern Brazil, with description of a new species

2009 ◽  
Vol 99 (3) ◽  
pp. 249-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michel P. Valim ◽  
Francine M. Lambrecht ◽  
Élvia E. S. Vianna
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
New Records ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Rio Grande ◽  
Southern Brazil ◽  
Rio Grande Do Sul ◽  
History Museum ◽  
Chewing Lice ◽  
Three Samples ◽  
A New Species

A collection of chewing lice was studied from the Natural History Museum of the Universidade Católica de Pelotas, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Twenty three samples from 16 bird species were examined. Included therein was a new species of the genus Plegadiphilus Bedford, 1939 which is described, illustrated and compared to P. cayennensis Emerson & Price, 1969. An updated list of chewing lice species recorded from birds of that state is presented.

scholarly journals Restricted Geographic Sampling Yields Low Parasitism Rates but Surprisingly Diverse Host Associations in Avian Lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) from South Texas

Diversity ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 430
Author(s):  
John P. Pistone ◽  
Jessica E. Light ◽  
Tyler A. Campbell ◽  
Therese A. Catanach ◽  
Gary Voelker
Keyword(s):  
Bird Species ◽  
Variable Region ◽  
Parasite Fauna ◽  
South Texas ◽  
Genetic Lineages ◽  
Mitochondrial Coi ◽  
Chewing Lice ◽  
Parasitism Rates ◽  
Novel Host ◽  
Host Associations

South Texas is a highly variable region encompassing multiple habitat types and harboring a wide diversity of organisms. However, the parasite fauna in this region is poorly known, especially for avian ectoparasites such as lice. To better understand avian louse diversity and host associations in South Texas, we examined a total of 507 birds for chewing lice. Lice were morphologically identified to genus and phylogenetic analysis was performed using one mitochondrial (COI) and two nuclear (18S rRNA and EF-1α) genes. Of the birds examined, 69 (13.5%) were parasitized by lice resulting in a total of 63 host associations across 45 bird species, 29 of which were previously unrecorded. The predominant taxa encountered during this study included two of the most diverse louse genera, Myrsidea and Brueelia. Molecular analyses revealed 21 distinct genetic lineages, 17 of which are associated with novel host associations and may represent new species. This study represents the first extensive examination of avian louse host associations and relationships in Texas and reveals that there is still much to be learned about ectoparasite diversity in the New World.

scholarly journals Does mixed-species flocking influence how birds respond to a gradient of land-use intensity?

2015 ◽  
Vol 282 (1811) ◽  
pp. 20151118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christos Mammides ◽  
Jin Chen ◽  
Uromi Manage Goodale ◽  
Sarath Wimalabandara Kotagama ◽  
Swati Sidhu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Mixed Forest ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Agricultural Landscapes ◽  
Land Use Intensity ◽  
Mixed Species ◽  
Buffer Zones ◽  
Cascading Effect ◽  
Western Ghats Of India

Conservation biology is increasingly concerned with preserving interactions among species such as mutualisms in landscapes facing anthropogenic change. We investigated how one kind of mutualism, mixed-species bird flocks, influences the way in which birds respond to different habitat types of varying land-use intensity. We use data from a well-replicated, large-scale study in Sri Lanka and the Western Ghats of India, in which flocks were observed inside forest reserves, in ‘buffer zones' of degraded forest or timber plantations, and in areas of intensive agriculture. We find flocks affected the responses of birds in three ways: (i) species with high propensity to flock were more sensitive to land use; (ii) different flock types, dominated by different flock leaders, varied in their sensitivity to land use and because following species have distinct preferences for leaders, this can have a cascading effect on followers' habitat selection; and (iii) those forest-interior species that remain outside of forests were found more inside flocks than would be expected by chance, as they may use flocks more in suboptimal habitat. We conclude that designing policies to protect flocks and their leading species may be an effective way to conserve multiple bird species in mixed forest and agricultural landscapes.

Are disturbance separation distances derived from single species applicable to mixed-species shorebird flocks?

2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (8) ◽  
pp. 719 ◽  
Author(s):  
Grant D. Linley ◽  
Patrick-Jean Guay ◽  
Michael A. Weston
Keyword(s):  
Bird Species ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Scientific Basis ◽  
Mixed Species ◽  
Constituent Species ◽  
Scant Attention ◽  
Species Groups ◽  
Mixed Species Flocks ◽  
System Separation ◽  
Species Flocks

Abstract ContextHuman disturbance threatens many bird species worldwide. Flight-initiation distances (FIDs) offer a scientific basis for separation distances between fauna and agents of disturbance, such as people. However, most available FIDs are from single-species groups. Multi-species flocks have received scant attention with regard to their FIDs; yet, they are extremely common in nature. AimTo examine suitable separation distances for mixed-species shorebird flocks by comparing single-species FIDs with those of the same species in mixed-species flocks. MethodWe examined FIDs in mixed- and single-species flocks of four shorebirds (double-banded plover, Charadrius bicinctus, red-capped plover, Charadrius ruficapillus, red-necked stint, Calidris ruficollis, and curlew sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea). FIDs were collected in comparable habitat and sites with similar (i.e. highly restricted) regimes of human occurrence. ResultsFIDs of single-species flocks of these species differed in their FID to an approaching walker. Different species permutations in mixed-species flocks resulted in different FIDs. FIDs of mixed-species flocks were lower than or the same as the FIDs of single-species groups of constituent species. Conclusions and implicationsIn our study system, separation distances (e.g. buffers; zones that exclude humans to reduce shorebird disturbance) based on FIDs of single species also would be efficacious for mixed-species flocks containing those species.

Ecological relationships between Common Murres, Uria aalge, and Thick-billed Murres, Uria lomvia, at the Gannet Islands, Labrador. III. Feeding ecology of the young

1987 ◽  
Vol 65 (7) ◽  
pp. 1638-1649 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. R. Birkhead ◽  
D. N. Nettleship
Keyword(s):  
Caloric Intake ◽  
Interspecific Difference ◽  
Uria Aalge ◽  
Uria Lomvia ◽  
Ice Breakup ◽  
Common Murre ◽  
Interspecific Differences ◽  
Daubed Shanny ◽  
Common Murres ◽  
Capelin Mallotus Villosus

A simultaneous comparison of the foods of Common Murre, Uria aalge, and Thick-billed Murre, Uria lomvia, chicks at the same location showed that the species composition of fish fed to chicks of the two murre species differed significantly. In both years of the study, Common Murre chicks were fed predominantly capelin, Mallotus villosus (78–80% by weight), whereas Thick-billed Murre chicks were fed mainly daubed shanny, Lumpenus maculatus (61–70% by weight). Thick-billed Murres tended to feed their chicks more frequently than Common Murres, probably because in both years the mean caloric value of their prey was lower than that of the Common Murre's. No other statistically significant interspecific differences were consistent between years. Prey lengths and weights overlapped considerably between the murre species, and the caloric intake of chicks showed no consistent interspecific difference. Marked interyear differences in feeding rate, prey size, and caloric intake occurred in both species. In 1982 ice breakup was late, and the murres' breeding seasons were delayed; this appeared to result in poor synchronization between the temporal pattern of food availability and the timing of each species' chick-rearing period, and the caloric intakes of chicks of both species were lower in that year than in 1983.

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