Gastrointestinal helminths of King penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus) at Crozet Archipelago

Communities of helminths are known to be related to feeding behaviors of hosts. While climate change and overfishing can impact food availability for Antarctic piscivorous predators, knowledge about infectious and parasitic diseases among Antarctic species is scarce or fragmentary. We studied the helminth community of King penguins (Aptenodytes patagonicus) from the Crozet Archipelago, the main breeding area of the species. Based on a sample of 41 individuals found freshly dead from predation or starvation, the gastrointestinal helminth community in King penguins was composed of 1 species of cestode (Tetrabothrius wrighti) and 2 species of nematodes (Tetrameres wetzeli and Contracaecum heardi). Cestodes formed the core of the helminth community (97.5% of worms collected) with a prevalence of infestation of 100% and a mean intensity of 178.6 worms per host. Sources of infestation and pathologies caused by these worms are also discussed.     

Influence of body composition on the metabolic rate of nestling European shags (Phalacrocorax aristotelis)

During the early development of avian nestlings, their mass-specific resting metabolic rate (RMR) changes in a biphasic pattern with the peak value often being much higher than that expected for an adult bird of similar body mass. In the present study we examined the possible influence of variations in the size of internal organs in “setting” the high RMR and peak metabolic rate (PMR) during development in a large altricial species, the European shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis). Thermoneutral RMR and cold-exposure induced PMR were measured in nestlings 15 days old, the age at which the highest RMR occurred during development. Body mass averaged 414 g. Mean values of RMR and PMR were 5.75 W and 9.08 W, respectively; the RMR value corresponds to approximately 250% of the expected value for an adult non-passerine bird of similar body mass. The masses of all the organs measured (breast and leg muscles, heart, liver, intestine, and kidney) varied isometrically with total body mass. However, large chicks had a significantly lower fractional water content than small chicks, suggesting that the former had achieved a higher level of functional maturity. In contrast to what has been suggested for adult birds in general, the heart and kidney masses of shag nestlings were not significantly correlated with the metabolic rates. The intestine length, in contrast, was highly and positively correlated with both the RMR and the PMR, i.e. intestine length was a better predictor of RMR and PMR than was total body mass. In addition, liver mass was positively correlated with RMR. The results of the present study suggest that the liver in particular may play a key role in establishing the high, mass-specific RMR which is attained during development in bird chicks. Our results also support previous suggestions that early in their development, altricial chicks mainly allocate energy to the growth of `energy-processing' organs (such as the intestine and liver) rather than to `energy-consuming' organs. Accepted: 3 March 1999     

Diving patterns in shags and cormorants (Phalacrocorax): tests of an optimal breathing model

Four species of shags and cormorants were observed while diving for food in estuaries and coastal waters in southwest England and the South Island of New Zealand. Times spent on the surface and under water were recorded. The correlations between dive and surface times were examined between and within bouts of dives. All species showed a positive correlation between the mean dive time and the mean surface time for the bout. Analysis of within-bout correlations, however, showed different patterns between species. For the Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis, there was a positive relationship within bouts between dive time and the preceding surface time, and correlations between dive time and the succeeding surface time were due only to the autocorrelation of surface times. This anticipatory breathing pattern was predicted by an optimal breathing model proposed by D. L. Kramer. For the Little Shag Phalacrocorax melanoleucus, dive times were significantly correlated within bouts with the following surface time, but correlations with the succeeding surface time were due only to the autocorrelation of surface times. This implies that breathing in this species is reactive rather than anticipatory. The Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo and the Pied Shag Phalacrocorax varius showed independent within-bout correlations with both preceding and succeeding surface times, implying both anticipatory and reactive breathing. The within-bout dependence of dive time on surface times was weak in all species, suggesting that oxygen is stored from one dive to another to some extent.     

New data on osteostracans (Agnatha) from the Lower Devonian of the Severnaya Zemlya Archipelago

The osteostracans Reticulaspis menneri gen. et sp. nov. and Nucleaspis unica gen. et sp. nov. from the Lower Devonian Severnaya Zemlya Formation of October Revolution Island of the Severnaya Zemlya Archipelago are described. The perfect preservation of the exoskeleton structure of Reticulaspis menneri allows the design and growth mode of the exoskeleton, with a continuous reticular dental surface of the cephalothoracic shield to be characterized. Nucleaspis unica is represented by a juvenile stage, which is extremely scarce in this vertebrate group. The preoccupied generic name Ungulaspis Afanassieva et Karatajūt?-Talimaa, 1998 is replaced by Paraungulaspis.     

Spatio-temporal distribution of mesozooplankton in a sub-Antarctic coastal basin of the Kerguelen Archipelago (southern Indian Ocean)

Seventeen surveys were performed fortnightly from January to December 1990 and covered a grid of 16 stations in the large Morbihan Bay at Kerguelen Island. Temperature and salinity were measured at four or five standard depths. Chlorophyll, carbon and nitrogen contents of surface water particulate matter were determined along with mesozooplanktonic biomass and abundance of copepods. The dominant species (90%) of mesozooplankton wasDrepanopus pectinatus, and two other taxa,Oithona spp. andCalanus simillimus, accounted for 8.6 and 0.4% respectively. A Multiple Correspondence Analysis was used to determine the influence of abiotic (temperature and salinity) and biotic factors (potential food supply) on the spatio-temporal distribution of copepods and, more specifically, on that of the growth stages ofD. pectinatus. No specific hydrological features were found. The distribution of copepods was fairly homogeneous in the whole bay while the quantitative changes were influenced by the seasonal rhythm. Only a slight trend of increasing values for the biotic or abiotic parameters and the neriticD. pectinatus was observed from the central to the inner back area of the bay.     

The brooding cycle of Abatus cordatus (Echinodermata: Spatangoida) at Kerguelen Islands

Summary The Schizasteridae includes a high proportion of brooding species. The brooding cycle of Abatus cordatus (a species endemic to Kerguelen) at an intertidal site in the Golfe du Morbihan is annual and lasts 8.5 months, from the end of March until the beginning of December. This cycle is reproducible among years. It is synchronous inside the Golfe between two intertidal sites. A displacement of about six months occurs at a deeper site (-50 m). The delay of the cycle and depth does not seem to be related because an open-sea intertidal site has a similar displacement of the brooding cycle. It depends on the gonadal cycle which itself depends on the availability of trophic resources. On this basis and samples taken in January annual brooding cycles are hypothetized to occur in 3 Antarctic species of Schizasteridae from Terre-Adélie in relation to the annual sea ice cover and restricted summer period of primary production.     

New data on the exoskeleton of the osteostracan genus Aestiaspis (Agnatha) from the Silurian of Saaremaa Island (Estonia) and the Severnaya Zemlya Archipelago (Russia)

The histological structure of exoskeleton of the osteostracan genus Aestiaspis Janvier et Lelievre, 1994 from the Silurian of Saaremaa Island is examined for the first time. The preservation of the material enables the fine exoskeleton structure to be described in detail. The study of Aestiaspis from Saaremaa Island and the Severnaya Zemlya Archipelago has shown structural details of exoskeleton sculpture. The formation of consolidated cephalothoracic shield in the phylogeny of Tremataspidoidei is discussed. The taxonomic position of the genus Aestiaspis in the Osteostraci system is analyzed.     

A comparison of three methods to investigate the diet of breeding double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) in the Beaver Archipelago, northern Lake Michigan

In order to understand the role of waterbirds in aquatic food webs it is important to first get an accurate depiction of their diet. Three methods of dietary assessment (pellets, regurgitate and stomach contents) are compared here for breeding double-crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) of the Beaver Archipelago, northern Lake Michigan. By numerical frequency (percent number), each method yielded different depictions of the diet. However, in terms of presence and absence (percent frequency) of possible prey types, stomach content data did agree with both pellets and regurgitate data. However, differences were noted between regurgitate and pellets. In terms of biomass measured (percent biomass) in regurgitate and stomachs, data gathered agreed. In essence, pellets underestimate the importance of alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) and overestimate the importance of crayfish (Orconectes sp.) in the diet when compared to both regurgitate and stomach analysis. The non-lethal method of regurgitate collection and analysis appears most practical in assessing cormorant diet in this system. In combination with information on avian foraging ecology and prey populations, these data may be used to investigate the relationships among cormorants and their prey, and lead to a better understanding of Great Lake food web dynamics.     

Isotopic Discrimination in the Double-Crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus)

The diet-tissue discrimination factor is the amount by which a consumer’s tissue varies isotopically from its diet, and is therefore a key element in models that use stable isotopes to estimate diet composition. In this study we measured discrimination factors in blood (whole blood, red blood cells and plasma), liver, muscle and feathers of Double-crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) for stable isotope ratios of carbon, nitrogen and sulfur. Cormorants exhibited discrimination factors that differed significantly among tissue types (for carbon and nitrogen), and differed substantially (in the context of the isotopic variation among relevant prey species) from those observed in congeneric species. The Double-crested Cormorant has undergone rapid population expansion throughout much of its historic range over the past three decades, leading to both real and perceived conflicts with fisheries throughout North America, and this study provides an essential link for the use of stable isotope analysis in researching foraging ecology, diet, and resource use of this widespread and controversial species.     

Reproductive biology of Boccardia polybranchia (Carazzi) in Kerguelen (Subantarctic Province)

Summary This work is carried out with samples taken during two southern summers in Kerguelen Archipelago (Southern Indian Ocean). Animals were found in sandy pebbles, in a tidal zone often beaten by the sea and with fresh water incomes. Densities of about 5000 individuals per square meter were found. Body growth and reproduction were observed during the summer period, between December and April. B. polybranchia in this area presents a lecithotrophic type development, with adelphophagy. The general body growth suggests that B. polybranchia has a r-strategy. This adelphophagy and its place in the reproductive strategies is discussed. Examples among Polydorids show that plankotrophic and lecithotrophic types of reproduction can be found and that integration in r- and k-reproductive strategy gradients is difficult. In fact oocyte sizes and amount of produced oocytes are quite variable for given place in the continuum. The transition from the planktotrophic to the lecitotrophic type observed within the same family suggests and adaptation of larvae to food availability resulting from growth arrest of part of the eggs, or from a failure in fertilization of part of the oocyte stock.     

New data on chromosomes of Chalcidoidea (Hymenoptera)

Karyotypes of twelve species of chalcidoid wasps from five families were studied for the first time: Baryscapus endemus and B. galactopus (2n = 12), Entedon parvicalcar and E. procioni (n = 6), and E. sparetus (2n = 12; all Eulophidae); Sycophila submutica (2n =16; Eurytomidae); Cerchysius subplanus (n = 11 and 2n = 22; Encyrtidae); Pteromalus cioni (2n =10; Pteromalidae); Pseudotorymus sp., Torymus microstigma, T. rubi, and Torymus sp. (all with 2n = 12; Torymidae). Various aspects of chromosomal diversity of Chalcidoidea are discussed.     

New genus of Pharyngodonidae (Nematoda: Oxyuridea) and other helminths in Platymantis nexipus (Anura: Ranidae) from Papua New Guinea

Rokroknema novaebritanniae n. gen., n. sp. (Nematoda: Pharyngodonidae) from the large intestine of Platymantis nexipus (Anura: Ranidae) is described and illustrated. Rokroknema represents the second Australo-Papuan genus assigned to the family Pharyngodonidae known to infect frogs. It is similar to Parathelandros (the other genus), but it is readily distinguished because the posterior pair of caudal papillae is not in the form of a rosette. Platymantis nexipus also was found to harbor 1 species of Digenea, Opisthioglyphe cophixali, and 5 additional species of Nematoda, adults of Aplectana krausi, Cosmocerca novaeguineae, Falcaustra batrachiensis, Icosiella papuensis, and larvae in cysts of Abbreviata sp., plus unidentified cystacanths of 1 species of acanthocephalan.     

Occurrence and HAT-RAPD analysis of gastrointestinal helminths in domestic chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) in Phayao province,northern Thailand

The present study determined the prevalence and distribution of gastrointestinal helminths in domestic chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) between November 2012 and August 2013. One hundred and twenty domestic chickens were purchased from villages in four districts of Phayao province; Mae Chai, Dok Khamtai, Chun and Chiang Kham. Morphological differences were used to identify the helminth species, and HAT-RAPD technique was used to differentiate among closely related species. The results revealed that the total prevalence of infection was 99.2%. Cestode and nematode infections showed the highest prevalence in rainy season, while trematode infections were low and only found in hot season. The species and their prevalence were: Ascaridia galli (50.8%), Heterakis gallinarum (86.7%), Prosthogonimus macrorchis (1.7%), Echinostoma revolutum (0.8%), Raillietina echinobothrida (48.3%), Raillietina tetragona (57.5%), Raillietina cesticillus (12.5%), Raillietina sp. (35.8%), Cotugnia chiangmaii (14.2%) and Cotugnia sp. (32.5%). The prevalence of helminth infections did not differ significantly between male and female chickens. HAT-RAPD analysis, the specific fragment of 400 and 250 bp indicated that Raillietina sp. and Cotugnia sp. found, respectively, differ from other closely related species. This study has confirmed that HAT-RAPD technique can be used to differentiate among related species combined with morphological observations.     

New data on the lichen genus Punctelia (Parmeliaceae)

Punctelia constantimontium Sérusiaux, a species present in South America and in southern Africa, is described as new. Punctelia riograndensis is reported for the first time for Africa.     

New genus of Cosmocercidae (nematoda) and other helminths in Hylarana volkerjane (Anura: Ranidae) from papua new Guinea

Paraplesiohedruris rinse n. gen., n. sp. (Ascaridida; Cosmocercoidae; Cosmocercidae) from the large intestine of Hylarana volkerjane (Anura; Ranidae) is described and illustrated. The new genus is assigned to the Cosmocercinae of the Cosmocercidae based on the presence of an esophagus composed of a short pharynx, cylindrical corpus, isthmus, and valved bulb; on the presence in males of paired spicules and numerous caudal papillae; plus the presence in the female of an equatorial vulva, 2 uteri, a short tail, and thin-shelled eggs. The Cosmocercinae now contains 10 genera. Hylarana volkerjane was also found to harbor 6 additional species of Nematoda, adults of Aplectana macintoshii, Icosiella papuensis, Meteterakis crombiei, Paracapillaria spratti, Physalopteroides milnensis, and larvae of Abbreviata sp., as well as 1 species of Acanthocephala, Pseudoacanthocephalus bufonis.