Extrinsic- and intrinsic-dependent variation in component communities and patterns of aggregations in helminth parasites of great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) from N.E. Poland

Abstract

In the present study, we investigate the effect extrinsic (habitat and season) and intrinsic (host’s age and sex) factors on the richness, diversity, and structure of parasite component communities and aggregation patterns in the helminth fauna of the great cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo from northeastern Poland. The helminth fauna of cormorants from the brackish water habitat was far richer (30 species) than in those from freshwater lakes (18 species) and strongly depend on season and age of the host. The values of diversity index strongly varied in relation to habitat and host age with clear seasonal differences in the value of diversity index, i.e., its value increased over time in adults from the brackish water habitat and decreased in those from the freshwater lakes. The number of helminths in adult and immature birds varied, depending on the season and habitat: in the brackish water habitat, the overall percentage of helminths was higher in spring than in summer, while in the freshwater habitat a higher proportion of helminths was recorded in summer. During spring, in the brackish water habitat, we observed a higher level of aggregation (for all groups of helminths) than in autumn. The opposite pattern was found in the freshwater habitat. However, this regularity was typical of adult birds only. In immature hosts, the level of aggregation was not predictable and varied among the higher taxa. Our study clearly showed that processes determinate diversity, structure, richness, and patterns of aggregation in helminth assemblages of avian hosts are multi-origin and highly complex.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00436-013-3714-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Helminth parasites of the lesser great cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo sinensis from two nesting regions in the Czech Republic

“…This is comparable with recent data in the most extensive study on the helminth parasites of P. carbo sinensis performed by Kanarek and Zaleśny (2014) in northeastern Poland, based on examination of 491 cormorants from freshwater and brackish water localities: of a total of 31 species recorded, 30 species were found in the brackish-water habitat, whereas only 18 species in two freshwater lakes (Lake Wulpińskie and Lake Selment Wielki). As can be seen from the data by Kanarek and Zaleśny (2014) and the present study, the species composition of helminths found in the freshwater environment in Poland was very similar to that found in the Czech Republic, differing only in the presence or absence of some non-specific species.…”

“…In the Czech Republic, adults of this cestode were recorded from Larus ridibundus Linnaeus, Podiceps cristatus Linnaeus, P. nigricollis Brehm, P. ruficollis (Pallas) and Sterna hirundo Linnaeus (see Sommer 1954, Ryšavý 1957, Škarda 1964, Bušta et al 1985, Ryšavý and Sitko 1992. This is the first record of L. intestinalis from P. carbo in this country, but it was reported from this host species in nearby Poland (Kanarek and Zaleśny 2014).…”

“…Later Sitko and Okulewicz (2010) reported D. incognita from P. carbo in Záhlinice, central Moravia, Czech Republic. Kanarek and Zaleśny (2014) found it from the same host species in northern Poland.…”

“…Reimer 1969, Dezfuli et al 2002, Kanarek and Rokicki 2005, Kanarek and Zaleśny 2014, whereas most data on these parasites are found in broader faunistical papers or those treating individual helminth species (e.g. Kanarek andRolbiecki 2006a,b, Dziekońska-Rynko andDzika 2011).…”

“…were reported by Sitko and Okulewicz (2010) from cormorants in Moravia: B. carbonis from P. carbo and Phalacrocorax pygmaeus in Pohořelice (South Moravia), Tovačov and Záhlinice (both Central Moravia; it is not clear from the publication to which host species the given localities refer to) and B. rudolphii from P. carbo in Záhlinice. Baruscapillaria carbonis and B. rudolphii have recently been reported from cormorants in freshwater and brackish-water environments from northeastern Poland (Kanarek and Zaleśny 2014).…”