Gastrointestinal helminths of Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) from Antarctica

Knowledge about parasitic organisms in Antarctica is scarce and fragmentary. The study reported here adds to the knowledge of gastrointestinal parasites of the Adélie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) (Sphenisciformes), from 25 de Mayo/King George Island (South Shetlands), Bahia Esperanza (Hope Bay) and...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Published in:Polar Research
Main Authors: Diaz, Julia I., Fusaro, Bruno, Longarzo, Lucrecia, Coria, Néstor, Vidal Burgos, Virginia, D'Amico, Verónica L., Barbosa, Andrés
Other Authors: Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (España), Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (España), European Commission
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis 2016
Subjects:
Parorchites zederi
Stegophorus macronectes
Tetrameres sp
Parasites
Ecosystem health
25 de Mayo
Avian Island
Esperanza
Hope Bay
King George Island
Antarc*
Antarctica
Dirección Nacional del Antártico
Polar Research
Pygoscelis adeliae
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/152146
https://doi.org/10.3402/polar.v35.28516
https://doi.org/10.13039/501100003339
https://doi.org/10.13039/501100003329
https://doi.org/10.13039/501100000780
Description
Summary:Knowledge about parasitic organisms in Antarctica is scarce and fragmentary. The study reported here adds to the knowledge of gastrointestinal parasites of the Adélie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) (Sphenisciformes), from 25 de Mayo/King George Island (South Shetlands), Bahia Esperanza (Hope Bay) and Avian Island (Antarctica). Thirty-five freshly dead specimens (20 chicks and 15 adults) were collected from December 2007 to December 2014 and examined for internal macroparasites. Three adult parasite species were found: one Cestoda, Parorchites zederi, and two Nematoda, Stegophorus macronectes and Tetrameres sp. Immature Tetrabothrius sp. were found in hosts from Avian Island. Helminth communities are known to be related to host feeding behaviours. Low parasite richness observed in Adélie penguins could be related to the stenophagic and pelagic diet of this host species, which feeds almost exclusively on krill. Financial support was given by the Dirección Nacional del Antártico (DNA), the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, and European Regional Development Fund (projects CGL2007-60369 and CTM2011-24427). VV was supported by a PhD grant from the Spanish Council of Scientific Research (JAEPre08-01053). Peer reviewed

Similar Items