Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dzt6s Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-28T04:08:55.216Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Is cestode infection intensity associated with decreased body condition in the Eurasian woodcock Scolopax rusticola?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  26 January 2017

C. Sánchez-García ,
E. Harris ,
A.C. Deacon ,
R. Bray  and
A.N. Hoodless
C. Sánchez-García*
Affiliation:
The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, Fordingbridge, SP6 1EF, UK
E. Harris
Affiliation:
Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, SW7 5BD, UK
A.C. Deacon
Affiliation:
The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, Fordingbridge, SP6 1EF, UK
R. Bray
Affiliation:
Department of Life Sciences, Natural History Museum, London, SW7 5BD, UK
A.N. Hoodless
Affiliation:
The Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust, Fordingbridge, SP6 1EF, UK
*
*E-mail: csanchez@gwct.org.uk
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The Eurasian woodcock Scolopax rusticola is a widespread woodland specialist and a widely harvested quarry species throughout its European wintering areas, including Britain. Woodcock are prone to cestodiasis, but prevalence levels and possible effects on body condition remain under-studied. We studied the prevalence, abundance and intensity of cestodiasis in 161 woodcock harvested in four British regions in December and January during two consecutive winters (2013/14 and 2014/15). Cestodiasis prevalence was 90%, and there was no difference in prevalence between birds harvested in Cornwall, Wessex, East Anglia and Scotland. High prevalence levels were explained by the fact that earthworms (Lumbricidae) are intermediate hosts for some cestode species and also the most important dietary component of woodcock. The distribution of cestodiasis in woodcock was aggregated, such that when using the total length of cestodes per sample to measure abundance, 65% of the birds had less than 80 cm. Cestodiasis abundance varied between sexes across regions but the intensity was not affected by region, sex, age or their interactions. The intensity of cestodiasis was positively correlated with fresh weight and pectoral mass, while no significant correlation was found with the abdominal fat pad. Our results suggest that, despite high prevalence levels and intensity of cestodiasis in woodcock, host body condition is not significantly affected and hence it is unlikely that cestodiasis has a major effect on woodcock population dynamics.

Type
Research Papers
Information
Journal of Helminthology , Volume 92 , Issue 1 , January 2018 , pp. 42 - 48
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017 

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

Arizaga, J. (2013) Revisión sobre el conocimiento científico de la chocha perdiz Scolopax rusticola L ., 1758 en España. Munibe 61, 129–145 (in Spanish).Google Scholar
Barton, N. & Houston, D. (2001) The incidence of intestinal parasites in British birds of prey. Journal of Raptor Research 35, 71–73.Google Scholar
Battley, P.F., Piersma, T., Dietz, M.W., Tang, S., Dekinga, A. & Hulsman, K. (2000) Empirical evidence for differential organ reductions during trans-oceanic bird flight. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B: Biological Sciences 267, 191–195.Google Scholar
Bednekoff, P.A. & Houston, A.I. (1994) Optimizing fat reserves over the entire winter: a dynamic model. Oikos 71, 408–415.Google Scholar
Birdlife International (2015) Scolopax rusticola, Eurasian woodcock. Available at http://datazone.birdlife.org/species/factsheet/22693052 (accessed 1 July 2016).Google Scholar
Bondarenko, S. & Kontrimavichus, V. (2006) Aploparaksis kornyushini n. sp. (Cestoda: Hymenolepididae), a parasite of the woodcock Scolopax rusticola (L.), and its life-cycle. Systematic Parasitologly 63, 45–52.Google Scholar
Boos, M. (2000) Modifications des réserves énergétiques corporelles du canard colvert (Anas platyrhynchos) et de la bécasse des bois (Scolopax rusticola) au cours de leur hivernage: aspects fonctionnels liés à la biologie de ces espèces et aux conditions du milieu . PhD Thesis, University of Strasbourg, France (in French and English).Google Scholar
Borgsteede, F.H.M., Van den Broek, E. & Swennen, C. (1988) Helminth parasites of the digestive track of the oystercatcher, Haematopus ostralegus, in the Wadden Sea, the Netherlands. Netherlands Journal of Sea Research 22, 171–174.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bosch, M., Torres, J. & Figuerola, J. (2000) A helminth community in breeding Yellow-legged Gulls (Larus cachinnans) pattern of association and its effect on host fitness. Canadial Journal of Zoology 78, 777–786.Google Scholar
Bush, A., Lafferty, K., Lotz, J. & Shostak, A. (1997). Parasitology meets ecology on its own terms: Margolis et al. revisited. Journal of Parasitology 83, 575–583.Google Scholar
Calvete, C., Estrada, R., Lucientes, J., Estrada, A. & Telletxea, I. (2003) Correlates of helminth community in the red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa L.) in Spain. Journal of Parasitology 89, 445–451.Google Scholar
Crawley, M.J. (1993). GLIM for ecologists. London, UK, Blackwell Scientific.Google Scholar
Davidson, N.C. (1981) Seasonal changes in the nutritional condition of shorebirds (Charadrii) during the non-breeding seasons . PhD Thesis, University of Durham, United Kingdom.Google Scholar
Delahay, R.J. (1999) Cestodiasis in the red grouse in Scotland. Journal of Wildlife Disease 35, 250–258.Google Scholar
Delahay, R.J., Speakman, J.R. & Moss, R. (1995) The energetic consequences of parasitism: effects of a developing infection of Trichostrongylus tenuis (Nematoda) on red grouse (Lagopus lagopus scoticus) energy balance, body weight and condition. Parasitology 110, 473–482.Google Scholar
Draycott, R.A.H., Woodburn, M.I.A., Ling, D.E. & Sage, R.B. (2006) The effect of an indirect anthelmintic treatment on parasites and breeding success of free-living pheasants Phasianus colchicus . Journal of Helminthology 80, 409–415.Google Scholar
Ferrand, Y. & Gossmann, F. (2009) Ageing and sexing series 5: ageing and sexing the Eurasian woodcock Scolopax rusticola . Wader Study Group Bulletin 116, 75–79.Google Scholar
Granval, P. (1987) Régime alimentaire diurne de la Bécasse des bois (Scolopax rusticola) en hivernage: approche quantitative. Gibier Faune Sauvage 4, 125–147.Google Scholar
Heward, C.J., Hoodless, A.N., Conway, G.J., Aebischer, N.J., Gillings, S. & Fuller, R.J. (2015) Current status and recent trend of the Eurasian Woodcock Scolopax rusticola as a breeding bird in Britain. Bird Study 62, 1–17.Google Scholar
Holmstad, P.R. (2005) The influence of a parasite community on the dynamics of a host population: a longitudinal study on willow ptarmigan and their parasites. Oikos 111, 377–391.Google Scholar
Hoodless, A.N. (1995) Studies of west palearctic birds. 195. Eurasian Woodcock Scolopax rusticola. British Birds 88, 578–592.Google Scholar
Hoodless, A.N. (2013) Unmasking migrations: tracking woodcock. Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust Annual Review 44, 24–25.Google Scholar
Hoodless, A.N. & Hirons, G.J.M. (2007) Habitat selection and foraging behaviour of breeding Eurasian Woodcock Scolopax rusticola: a comparison. Ibis 149, 234–249.Google Scholar
Hudson, P. (1986) The effect of a parasitic nematode on the breeding production of red grouse. Journal of Animal Ecology 55, 85–92.Google Scholar
Hudson, P., Dobson, A. & Newborn, D. (1992a) Do parasites make prey vulnerable to predation? Red grouse and parasites. Journal of Animal Ecology 61, 681–692.Google Scholar
Hudson, P.J., Newborn, D. & Dobson, A.P. (1992b) Regulation and stability of a free-living host–parasite system: Trichostrongylus tenuis in red grouse. I. Monitoring and parasite reduction experiments. Journal of Animal Ecology 61, 477–486.Google Scholar
López-Neyra, C. (1947) Helmintos de los vertebrados ibéricos. Vol. 3. Granada, Spain, CSIC, Instituto Nacional de Parasitología (in Spanish).Google Scholar
Lutz, M. & Jensen, F. (2006) European Union management plan for woodcock Scolopax rusticola. 2007–2009. Available at www.woodcockireland.com/mngt_plan.doc (accessed 1 November 2016).Google Scholar
Mallory, M.L., Mclaughlin, J.D. & Forbes, M.R. (2007) Breeding status, contaminant burden and helminth parasites of Northern Fulmars Fulmarus glacialis from the Canadian high Arctic. Ibis 149, 338–344.Google Scholar
Millán, J., Gortázar, C. & Villafuerte, R. (2004) A comparison of the helminth faunas of wild and farm-reared red-legged partridge. Journal of Wildlife Management 68, 701–707.Google Scholar
Mitchell, P.I., Scott, I. & Evans, P.R. (2000) Vulnerability to severe weather and regulation of body mass of Icelandic and British Redshank Tringa totanus . Journal of Avian Biology 31, 511–521.Google Scholar
Moss, R., Watson, A., Trenholm, I. & Parr, R. (1993) Caecal threadworms Trichostrongylus tenuis in red grouse Lagopus lagopus scoticus: effects of weather and host density upon estimated worm burdens. Parasitology 107, 199–209.Google Scholar
Newton, I. (1998) Population limitation in birds. 1st edn. 597 pp. London, Academic Press Limited.Google Scholar
Okulewicz, A. (2014) Helminths in migrating and wintering birds recorded in Poland. Annals of Parasitology 60, 19–24.Google ScholarPubMed
Paoletti, B., Di Cesare, A., Iorio, R., Tavaglione, D., Bartolini, R. & Gatti, A. (2016) Survey on intestinal helminth fauna of woodcocks (Scolopax rusticola) in Italy. Veterinaria Italiana 52, 117–121.Google Scholar
Pienkowski, M.W., Lloyd, C.S. & Minton, C.D.T. (1979) Seasonal and migrational weight changes in Dunlins. Bird Study 26, 134–148.Google Scholar
Poulin, R. (2001) Interactions between species and the structure of helminth communities. Parasitology 122 (suppl.), S3–S11.Google Scholar
Reguera, A., Castañón, L. & Garnica, R. (1991) Infrapoblaciones parasitarias intestinales de la becada (Scolapax rusticola L., 1758) y su influencia en algunos parámetros somáticos. Anales Facultad Veterinaria León 37, 111–116 (in Spanish with English abstract).Google Scholar
Sánchez-García, C. & Hoodless, A.N. (2016) Regulation of woodcock energy reserves in winter. Game & Wildlife Conservation Trust Review 47, 22–23.Google Scholar
Shorten, M. (1974) The European woodcock (Scolopax rusticola). Fordingbridge, Hampshire, The Game Conservancy Trust.Google Scholar
Shutler, D., Alisauskas, R.T. & Mclaughlin, J.D. (2012) Associations between body composition and helminths of lesser snow geese during winter and spring migration. International Journal for Parasitology 42, 755–760.Google Scholar
Soloviev, M.Y. & Tomkovich, P.S. (1997). Body mass changes in waders (Charadrii) in a high arctic area at northern Taimyr, Siberia. Journal für Ornithologie 138, 271–281.Google Scholar
Souchay, G., Gauthier, G. & Pradel, R. (2013) Temporal variation of juvenile survival in a long-lived species: the role of parasites and body condition. Oecologia 173, 151–160.Google Scholar
Thomas, V.G. (1986) Body condition of willow ptarmigan parasitized by cestodes during winter. Canadian Journal of Zoology 64, 251–254.Google Scholar
Wilson, K. & Grenfell, B.T. (1997) Generalized linear modelling for parasitologists. Parasitology Today 13, 33–38.Google Scholar
Supplementary material: File

Sánchez-García supplementary material

Table S1

Download Sánchez-García supplementary material(File)
File 15.9 KB