Helminth Communities in Avocets: Importance of the Compound Community

Abstract

This paper reports patterns of similarity and overlap in species presence and patterns of linear distribution of intestinal helminths in 22 avocets from 4 populations. Avocets collected from ephemeral bodies of water in Alberta and Manitoba had communities composed largely of species that are avocet specialists plus some that are host generalists. The composition of helminth communities in these hosts was similar to that reported in earlier surveys of avocet helminths. There was little evidence for competition between helminth species in these communities. In contrast, avocets collected from permanent bodies of water in Alberta had communities composed largely of species that are specialists in various duck species, particularly lesser scaup. These helminths were superimposed on the normal community, fitting into linear gaps along the intestine but also overlapping the distributions of avocet specialists. These lesser scaup specialists exhibit interactive patterns amongst themselves and, to some extent, with avocet specialists. Helminth communities in avocets from ephemeral bodies of water have vacant niches and are largely isolationist in nature. Those in avocets from permanent bodies of water are saturated and are more interactive in nature.

Helminth parasites in six species of shorebirds (Charadrii) from the Coast of Belize

“…The uniform gray-white sand beaches of Belize with minimum littoral zone and absence of rocky areas may, in part, account for an absence of proper intermediate molluscan hosts for trematodes. The absence of the nematode guild may be do to small sample size but its absence has been evident in other studies on shorebirds from Alaska (Canaris & Kinsella 2000), Canada (Goater & Bush 1988, Edwards & Bush 1989) and in some species of shorebirds in North and South America reviewed by Anderson et al (1996).…”

Intestinal parasites of unisexual and bisexual lizards Darevskia spp. (Lacertidae) from Northeastern Anatolia

“…The most common helminth in the communities of the analysed hosts is the pharyngodonyd nematode Spauligodon saxicolae (found under two morphotypes, see Jorge et al, 2014;Roca et al, 2016) which should be considered as rock lizards specialist (sensu Edwards & Bush [1989], but also see Roca & Hornero [1994]), since it has been recorded from Darevskia and Podarcis lizard species (Sharpilo, 1976;Roca et al 1986); Strongyloides darevskyi is in fact a true Darevskia specialist since it has been recorded only from species of this genus (Roca et al, 2016). The cestode N. tarentolae is a generalist species found in many different lizard genera (Roca et al, 1985).…”

“…Brillouin's index was used for calculating diversity according to Magurran (2004). Criteria of Edwards & Bush (1989) and Roca & Hornero (1994) were used in the consideration of the helminth species as specialists or generalists.…”

Intestinal helminth communities of Podarcis bocagei and Podarcis carbonelli (Sauria: Lacertidae) in NW Portugal

“…The remaining helminths, are species usually found as parasites of lacertid lizards and other reptile hosts. S. carbonelli can be considered as Podarcis specialist (Edwards & Bush, 1989;Roca & Hornero, 1994), since it only parasitizes hosts of this genus (García-Adell Roca et al, 1989). Oochoristica gallica, Sk.…”