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...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Polar Research
Main Authors: Julia Inés Diaz, Bruno Fusaro, Lucrecia Longarzo, Néstor Rubén Coria, Virginia Vidal, Verónica D'Amico, Andrés Barbosa
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Norwegian Polar Institute 2016
Subjects:
Parorchites zederi
Stegophorus macronectes
Tetrameres sp
parasites
ecosystem health
Environmental sciences
GE1-350
Oceanography
GC1-1581
King George Island
Esperanza
25 de Mayo
Hope Bay
Avian Island
Antarc*
Antarctica
Polar Research
Pygoscelis adeliae
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.3402/polar.v35.28516
https://doaj.org/article/5d09d507dc344a1f839a450d9ec54c31
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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.

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