The scaling of total parasite biomass with host body mass

Poulin, Robert; George-Nascimento, Mario

doi:10.1016/j.ijpara.2006.11.009

Cited by 109 publications

(105 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Swainson's spurfowl is smaller than helmeted guineafowl, and some studies suggest that the prevalence and biomass of intestinal parasites scales positively with host body mass (Poulin & George-Nascimento 2007). However, we do not think that this can explain the observed differences between the two species as this only holds true for the maximum biomass of parasites that a host can harbour (Poulin & George-Nascimento 2007). Furthermore the hosts in this study had comparably low levels of infection as mentioned above.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 52%

“…These arthropods would therefore have a higher chance of becoming infected, as well as being ingested by guineafowl as flock size increases, because the foraging efficiency on prey species increases as a function of group size (Moore et al 1988). Swainson's spurfowl is smaller than helmeted guineafowl, and some studies suggest that the prevalence and biomass of intestinal parasites scales positively with host body mass (Poulin & George-Nascimento 2007). However, we do not think that this can explain the observed differences between the two species as this only holds true for the maximum biomass of parasites that a host can harbour (Poulin & George-Nascimento 2007).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 66%

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Age- and sex-based variation in helminth infection of helmeted guineafowl (Numida meleagris) with comments on Swainson's spurfowl (Pternistis swainsonii) and Orange River francolin (Scleroptila levaillantoides)

Davies¹,

Junker

Jansen

et al. 2008

South African Journal of Wildlife Research

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Gastrointestinal tracts from 48 helmeted guineafowl (Numida meleagris), five Swainson's spurfowl (Pternistis swainsonii) and a single Orange River francolin (Scleroptila levaillantoides) were examined for helminth parasites. Twelve species of helminths were found in helmeted guineafowl, comprising six nematodes, five cestodes and a single acanthocephalan. Six species of nematodes were recovered from Swainson's spurfowl and a single nematode was recovered from the Orange River francolin. First-year guineafowl had more than twice the intensity of infection than did adult guineafowl, particularly regarding the acanthocephalan Mediorhynchus gallinarum, the caecal nematodes Subulura dentigera and S. suctoria, and the cestodes Octopetalum numida, Hymenolepis cantaniana and Numidella numida. Female guineafowl had significantly higher intensities of infection than males, especially concerning M. gallinarum, S. dentigera and N. numida and the nematode Gongylonema congolense. The recovery of the cestode Retinometra sp. from helmeted guineafowl constitutes a new host-parasite record.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 52%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 66%

Age- and sex-based variation in helminth infection of helmeted guineafowl (Numida meleagris) with comments on Swainson's spurfowl (Pternistis swainsonii) and Orange River francolin (Scleroptila levaillantoides)

Davies¹,

Junker

Jansen

et al. 2008

South African Journal of Wildlife Research

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“…Patterns in parasite communities are commonly detected using only numerical descriptors, which may not hold when parasite mass is used (Muñoz and George-Nascimento, 2008). Nowadays, studies related to the body size host and their parasite biovolume, mainly in fish, has been increased (Poulin, 1999;Poulin and George-Nascimento, 2007). It is assumed that the total parasite biomass harboured by an individual host species reflects the energy demands of both the host and parasite (George-Nascimento et al, 2002), and can highlight factors that determine the helminth community structure.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Helminth communities in three sympatric rodents from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest: contrasting biomass and numerical abundance

Maldonado-Júnior²,

Luque

2012

Braz. J. Biol.

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The study of parasite body size is an important approach to understand the different patterns of helminth community structure, once it is usually analysed using only numerical descriptors which do not capture size heterogeneity among parasite species. In the present study, we compared the pattern in the helminth community of three sympatric wild rodent species Akodon cursor, A. montensis and Oligoryzomys nigripes using numerical abundance and biomass approaches. The cestode Rodentolepis akodontis was the worm with highest biomass in the three rodents. The trichostrongylid Stilestrongylus lanfrediae presented highest biomass in O. nigripes and represented 70% of the total numeric abundance of parasites. Interestingly, for Akodon spp. the species with more biomass represented less than 10% of the total numerical abundance. Parasites with the higher numeric abundance do not have the largest body size. Although the biomass pattern is different from numeric abundance, this difference does not influence in the helminth distribution community among the three sympatric hosts. The status change of a helminth species within the community due to its volumetric dominance might justify a new approach since parasites belonging to different taxa obtain resources from the host in different ways.Keywords: biomass, abundance, helminth community structure, sympatric rodents, Atlantic Forest. Comunidades de helmintos de três roedores simpátricos da Mata Atlântica brasileira:contrastando biomassa e abundância numérica ResumoA utilização do tamanho do corpo do parasita é uma importante abordagem para compreender diferentes padrões na estrutura da comunidade helmíntica, uma vez que são utilizados apenas descritores numéricos que não necessariamente detectam a heterogeneidade no tamanho entre as espécies de parasitos. No presente estudo, comparou-se o padrão da comunidade helmíntica de três roedores silvestres simpátricos (Akodon cursor, A. montensise e Oligoryzomys nigripes), usando uma abordagem com abundância numérica e biomassa. O cestoide Rodentolepis akodontis foi o helminto com maior biomassa nos três roedores. O tricostrongilídeo Stilestrongylus lanfrediae apresentou uma alta biomassa em O. nigripes e representou 70% da abundância numérica total dos parasitas. Interessantemente, em Akodon spp., a espécie com maior biomassa, representou menos de 10% da abundância total. Parasitas com maior abundância numérica não foram aqueles com maior tamanho do corpo. Embora o padrão de biomassa determinado tenha sido diferente da abundância numérica, essa diferença não influenciou na distribuição das comunidades de helmintos nos três hospedeiros simpátricos. A mudança do status de uma espécie de helminto dentro da comunidade em função da sua dominância volumétrica pode justificar uma nova abordagem, uma vez que parasitas pertencentes a diferentes táxons podem obter recursos de seu hospedeiro de forma diferente.Palavras-chave: biomassa, abundância, estrutura da comunidade de helmintos, roedores simpátricos, Mata Atlântica.

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“…However, complementarity may not be necessary because mean parasite biomass for the typical macroparasites used in that study does not represent the maximal parasite biomass supportable by a host (Poulin & George-Nascimento 2007). This is because such parasites do not grow to commandeer available resources (as opposed to parasitic castrators and pathogens; Lafferty & Kuris 2002) and mean numbers in a host are typically far lower than maximum numbers (Poulin & George-Nascimento 2007). Because mean measures for those parasites do not necessarily characterize assemblages experiencing competition, they are less subject to study focused on how niche complementarity influences diversity effects on productivity.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diversity increases biomass production for trematode parasites in snails

2008

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Increasing species diversity typically increases biomass in experimental assemblages. But there is uncertainty concerning the mechanisms of diversity effects and whether experimental findings are relevant to ecological process in nature. Hosts for parasites provide natural, discrete replicates of parasite assemblages. We considered how diversity affects standing-stock biomass for a highly interactive parasite guild: trematode parasitic castrators in snails. In 185 naturally occurring habitat replicates (individual hosts), diverse parasite assemblages had greater biomass than single-species assemblages, including those of their most productive species. Additionally, positive diversity effects strengthened as species segregated along a secondary niche axis (space). The most subordinate species-also the most productive when alone-altered the general positive effect, and was associated with negative diversity effects on biomass. These findings, on a previously unstudied consumer class, extend previous research to illustrate that functional diversity and species identity may generally both explain how diversity influences biomass production in natural assemblages of competing species.

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The scaling of total parasite biomass with host body mass

Cited by 109 publications

References 14 publications

Age- and sex-based variation in helminth infection of helmeted guineafowl (Numida meleagris) with comments on Swainson's spurfowl (Pternistis swainsonii) and Orange River francolin (Scleroptila levaillantoides)

Age- and sex-based variation in helminth infection of helmeted guineafowl (Numida meleagris) with comments on Swainson's spurfowl (Pternistis swainsonii) and Orange River francolin (Scleroptila levaillantoides)

Helminth communities in three sympatric rodents from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest: contrasting biomass and numerical abundance

Diversity increases biomass production for trematode parasites in snails

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