Comparison of ectoparasite load on barnacle geese (Branta leucopsis) in arctic and temperate regions
(2014) BION32 20131Degree Projects in Biology
- Abstract
- Abstract
The barnacle goose (Branta leucopsis) is a migratory bird species with wintering grounds in temperate regions. Historically these geese migrate to the arctic to breed, more recently however a part of the population breeds in the temperate wintering ground. It has been hypothesized that parasitic pressure is lower in the arctic. While this holds true for endoparasites, it might not for ectoparasites. To gain more insight into host – parasite interactions involving ectoparasites and birds, this study set out to compare ectoparasite load on barnacle geese in a temperate and arctic region. Ectoparasite load was investigated by analysing abundance, diversity, prevalence and the likelihood of presence of ectoparasites on pulli (age... (More) - Abstract
The barnacle goose (Branta leucopsis) is a migratory bird species with wintering grounds in temperate regions. Historically these geese migrate to the arctic to breed, more recently however a part of the population breeds in the temperate wintering ground. It has been hypothesized that parasitic pressure is lower in the arctic. While this holds true for endoparasites, it might not for ectoparasites. To gain more insight into host – parasite interactions involving ectoparasites and birds, this study set out to compare ectoparasite load on barnacle geese in a temperate and arctic region. Ectoparasite load was investigated by analysing abundance, diversity, prevalence and the likelihood of presence of ectoparasites on pulli (age ≤38 days), juveniles (age ≥39 days) and adult hosts. Five chewing lice species were found (Trinoton anserinum, Ciconiphilus pectiniventris, Ornithobius hexophthalmus, Anatoecus dentatus and Anaticola anseris), belonging to Insecta: Phthiraptera. In general, plumage surface and age of goslings was positively correlated with ectoparasite load. Out of five ectoparasite species, three were more abundant in the temperate region, which is in accordance with the hypothesis proposing higher parasite load in temperate versus arctic regions. However, one species was found to be higher in the arctic. These findings suggests care should be taken not to generalize findings over all chewing lice species, but to pay attention to the species’ specific ecology. (Less) - Abstract
- Popular science summary
Comparison of ectoparasite load on barnacle geese (Branta leucopsis) in arctic and temperate regions
Some birds winter in warm regions, but breed in the arctic. This long migration takes up a lot of energy, which leaves scientists wonder why birds undertake this journey. One of the many hypotheses to explain it, is that there are fewer parasites in the arctic. Therefore, this thesis work set out to compare ectoparasite (parasites that live on the outside of the host) load on barnacle geese (Branta leucopsis). All barnacle geese in our study population winter in temperate regions, and one part of the population also stays there to breed, while the other part migrates to the arctic. The birds included in this... (More) - Popular science summary
Comparison of ectoparasite load on barnacle geese (Branta leucopsis) in arctic and temperate regions
Some birds winter in warm regions, but breed in the arctic. This long migration takes up a lot of energy, which leaves scientists wonder why birds undertake this journey. One of the many hypotheses to explain it, is that there are fewer parasites in the arctic. Therefore, this thesis work set out to compare ectoparasite (parasites that live on the outside of the host) load on barnacle geese (Branta leucopsis). All barnacle geese in our study population winter in temperate regions, and one part of the population also stays there to breed, while the other part migrates to the arctic. The birds included in this study were sampled when they were breeding in the temperate Netherlands (data collected in 2012) or in arctic Russia (data collected in 2013). Tarsus, wing and head length were taken in addition to body mass, and the birds were sampled for ectoparasites. I found that geese from both populations carry the same five species of ectoparasites. These five ectoparasite species were all chewing lice: little insects that live in, and feed on, the feathers of the host. In general, I found that the abundance (number of chewing lice found on a host) increased with increasing plumage surface. Previous studies have shown that relative humidity is important for chewing lice load on birds. However, during my study the relative humidity was not different in the Netherlands compared to Russia. Still, for three out of five species of chewing lice, I found a significantly higher abundance on adult geese in the temperate compared to the arctic site. This is in accordance with the hypothesis proposing higher parasite load in temperate versus arctic regions. However, for one chewing lice species inhabiting the wings of the host, the opposite pattern was true. This suggests care should be taken not generalize findings over all (lice) species, but to pay attention to the species’ specific ecology.
Supervisors: Dr. Götz Eichhorn and Prof. Dr. Dennis Hasselquist
Master´s Degree Project - Animal Ecology, 45 credits
Department of Biology, Lund university (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/4359903
- author
- Gijsen, Lisa
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- BION32 20131
- year
- 2014
- type
- H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
- subject
- language
- English
- id
- 4359903
- date added to LUP
- 2014-03-17 13:41:20
- date last changed
- 2014-03-17 13:41:20
@misc{4359903,
abstract = {{Popular science summary
Comparison of ectoparasite load on barnacle geese (Branta leucopsis) in arctic and temperate regions
Some birds winter in warm regions, but breed in the arctic. This long migration takes up a lot of energy, which leaves scientists wonder why birds undertake this journey. One of the many hypotheses to explain it, is that there are fewer parasites in the arctic. Therefore, this thesis work set out to compare ectoparasite (parasites that live on the outside of the host) load on barnacle geese (Branta leucopsis). All barnacle geese in our study population winter in temperate regions, and one part of the population also stays there to breed, while the other part migrates to the arctic. The birds included in this study were sampled when they were breeding in the temperate Netherlands (data collected in 2012) or in arctic Russia (data collected in 2013). Tarsus, wing and head length were taken in addition to body mass, and the birds were sampled for ectoparasites. I found that geese from both populations carry the same five species of ectoparasites. These five ectoparasite species were all chewing lice: little insects that live in, and feed on, the feathers of the host. In general, I found that the abundance (number of chewing lice found on a host) increased with increasing plumage surface. Previous studies have shown that relative humidity is important for chewing lice load on birds. However, during my study the relative humidity was not different in the Netherlands compared to Russia. Still, for three out of five species of chewing lice, I found a significantly higher abundance on adult geese in the temperate compared to the arctic site. This is in accordance with the hypothesis proposing higher parasite load in temperate versus arctic regions. However, for one chewing lice species inhabiting the wings of the host, the opposite pattern was true. This suggests care should be taken not generalize findings over all (lice) species, but to pay attention to the species’ specific ecology.
Supervisors: Dr. Götz Eichhorn and Prof. Dr. Dennis Hasselquist
Master´s Degree Project - Animal Ecology, 45 credits
Department of Biology, Lund university}},
author = {{Gijsen, Lisa}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Comparison of ectoparasite load on barnacle geese (Branta leucopsis) in arctic and temperate regions}},
year = {{2014}},
}