Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-8bhkd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-12T19:59:20.175Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The Longevity of some Species of Helminth Parasites in Naturally Acquired Infections of the Lesser Black-backed Gull, Larus fuscus L., in Britain

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 June 2009

Catherine Ellis  and
I. C. Williams
Catherine Ellis
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, The University, Hull
I. C. Williams
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, The University, Hull
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

1. Ninety-six lesser black-backed gulls, Larus fuscus L., captured at about 6 weeks of age, were kept in captivity for up to 2⅛ years. At intervals some gulls were killed and examined for helminth parasites, of which 14 species were found comprising 4 species of Trematoda, 5 species of Cestoda and 5 species of Nematoda.

2. Nine of the 14 species are commonly found in Holarctic gulls and may be regarded as characteristic members of the helminth fauna of these birds. Six species are recorded from L. fuscus for the first time.

3. The life span of different species of helminth parasites in L. fuscus varied from 2 months to 2⅛ years; few specimens lived in their host for more than one year. During captivity there was a marked decline in the variety of the helminth fauna of individual gulls, as well as a general decline in the incidence and intensity of infection with individual species of parasites. There was one exception, the tape-worm Tetrabothrius cylindraceus, which increased in incidence and maintained a fairly even intensity of infection in L. fuscus over 21 months. The results are discussed in relation to the ecology of the parasite and the host.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Helminthology , Volume 47 , Issue 3 , September 1973 , pp. 329 - 338
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1973

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Baer, J. G., 1954.—“Révision taxonomique et étude biologique des cestodes de la famille des Tetrabothriidae parasites d'oiseaux de haute mer et de mammiféres marins.” Mém. Univ. Neuchâtel, 1, 121 pp.Google Scholar
Barnes, J. A. G., 1961.—“The winter status of the lesser black-backed gull, 1959-1960.” Bird Study, 8, 127–147.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harris, M. P., 1905.—“The food of some Larus gulls.” Ibis, 107, 43–53.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jones, N. V. and Williams, I. C. 1968.—“The trematode parasites of the Sheathbill, Chionis alba (Gmelin), from Signy Island, South Orkney Islands. J. Helminth. 42, 65–80.Google Scholar
Pemberton, R. T., 1963.—“Helminth parasites of three species of British gulls, Larus argentatus Pont., L. fuscus L. and L. ridibundus L.” J. Helminth., 37, 57–88.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Threlfall, W., 1967.—“Studies on the helminth parasites of the herring gull, Larus argentatus Pontopp., in Northern Caernarvonshire and Anglesey.” Parasitology, 57, 431–453.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Threlfall, W., 1968.—“Studies on the helminth parasites of the American herring gull (Larus argentatus Pont.) in Newfoundland” Can. J. Zool., 46, 1119–1126.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Williams, I. C., 1962.—“A list of parasitic worms, including twenty-five new records, from British birds.” Ann. Mag. nat. Hist., (13), 4, 407–480.Google Scholar
Williams, I. C. and Harris, M. P., 1965.—“The infection of the gulls Larus argentatus Pont., L. fuscus L. and L. marinus L. with Cestoda on the coast of Wales.” Parasitology, 55, 237–256.CrossRefGoogle Scholar