Notes sur la spécificité et l’éco-éthologie des puces d’oiseaux aux iles Kerguelen(Insecta ; Siphonaptera)

Abstract

A general review of the distribution of these parasits and their hosts is given and a check-list of the parasitized species of birds is discussed, for these Islands.Some data concerning phenology of the two species of fleas are available. Parapsyllus ecology revealed interesting aspects: the ability of larvae to live in the down of chicks (Halobaena caerulea and Pachyptila belcheri) as it has been shown for Glaciopsyllus antarcticus (Ceratophyllid) an endemic flea from Antarctica found on another procellarid, Fulmarus glacialoides; the ability of imago to survive on adult birds foraging on pelagic areas for long periods (up to 7 days).

Ectoparasites of terrestrial vertebrates inhabiting the Georgia Barrier Islands, USA: an inventory and preliminary biogeographical analysis

“…On the Kermadec Islands, which lie about 1000 km north of New Zealand, several species of chewing lice that parasitize certain species of birds elsewhere, appear to be absent from the same bird species on these islands (Watt, 1971). Moreover, certain bird species inhabiting the Kerguelen Islands in the Southern Ocean are parasitized by only one or two species of fleas, but are parasitized by additional flea species elsewhere (Chastel & Beaucournu, 1992).…”

Arthropod parasites of Antarctic and Subantarctic birds and pinnipeds: A review of host-parasite associations

“…It is worth noting that the subspecies of Parapsyllus magellanicus Jordan, 1938 show clear differences in their geographic distribution. Based on current records, P. m. heardi is restricted to the Indian Ocean (Prince Edward, Crozet, Kerguelen and Heard Islands), P. m. largificus is endemic to the Bounty Islands and P. m. magellanicus occurs in the Southwest Atlantic (South Georgia and Falkland Islands) and Pacific Oceans (Antipodes, Snares and Macquarie Islands) ( Smit, 1979 , 1984 ; Chastel and Beaucournu, 1992 ). The subspecies of Notiopsylla kerguelensis (Taschenberg, 1880) also show considerable differences in geographic distribution: N. k. kerguelensis is a common parasite of Procellariiformes in Subantarctic islands throughout the Southern Ocean, including the Antipodes Islands ( Jordan and Rothschild, 1908 ; Meillon, 1952 ; Beaucournu and Rodhain, 1990 ; Chastel and Beaucournu, 1992 ), whereas N. k. tenuata is an abundant parasite of the Antipodes parakeet ( Cyanoramphus unicolor ) and frequently shifts onto Procellariiformes nesting in the Antipodes Islands, but has not been recorded elsewhere ( Smit, 1979 ).…”