Moose Parasites in Relation to Supplementary Feeding

• Main Author: Wedul, Sari Jemiina
• Format: Master Thesis
• Language: English
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: alces alces; elg; parasitter; parasites; moose; feeding stations; supplementary feeding; GI nematodes; Trichostrogylidae; Nematodirus; Trichuris; negative binomial distribution; parasite aggregation; fôringsstasjon; GI nematoder; negativ binomial regresjon; parasitt aggregasjon; VDP::Mathematics and natural science: 400::Zoology and botany: 480::Parasitology: 484; VDP::Mathematics and natural science: 400::Zoology and botany: 480; Norway; Alces alces
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11250/132225

Master i anvendt økologi, 2011 English: In this study, I tested the effect of winter supplemental feeding of moose (Alces alces) on gastrointestinal parasite infection in two counties in Norway, by comparing faecal egg counts of moose which used and did not use feeding stations. I identified three different GI nematodes based on egg morphology; Trichostrongylidae spp., Nematodirus spp. and Trichuris spp. All species were found in Hedmark while in Telemark I found only Trichuris spp. Prevalence of Trichostrogylidae spp. and Nematodirus spp. varied significantly depending on year sampled, and age class and month, respectively. Age class, year and body mass significantly affected intensity of Trichostrogylidae spp. infection. Trichostrogylidae spp. abundance was higher in 2009 when weather conditions were more challenging, and decreased with increasing body mass. Adult moose had a higher intensity of infection than juvenile moose and female juvenile moose had lower abundances than male juvenile moose. Use of feeding stations did not affect prevalence of any parasite species or intensity of infection of Trichostrogylidae spp. Due to the low prevalence and high number of zeros, I was unable to model intensity of Nematodirus spp. and Trichuris spp. infection. Possible explanations for my findings and future research prospects are discussed. Norsk: I denne undersøkelsen analyserte jeg påvirkning av fôringsstajoner på elgens infeksjoner med gastrointestinale nematoder i to fylker i Norge ved å sammenligne mengden av parasittegg i avføring hos elg som brukte og ikke brukte fôringsstasjoner. Jeg identifiserte tre slekter tilhørende gastrointestinale nematoder basert på egg morfologi, i. e. Trichostrongylidae spp., Nematodirus spp. og Trichuris spp. Alle tre slekter ble funnet i Hedmark mens i Telemark fant jeg kun Trichuris spp. Prevalens av Trichostrongylidae spp. og Nematodirus spp. varierte signifikant med henholdsvis år, og aldersklasse og måned. Aldersklasse, år og kroppsvekt påvirket signifikant på grad av ...