Helminth parasite communities in four species of shorebirds (Charadriidae) on King Island, Tasmania

Abstract

Helminth community composition and structure were examined among rwo resident shorebird species, red-capped plover, Charadrius ruficapillus (N = 20), and masked lapwing, Vanellus miles (N = 5), and rwo migrants, ruddy turnstone, Arenaria interpres (N ~ and curlew sandpiper, Calidris ftrruginea (N = 5), on King Island, Tasmania in March-April 1993, prior to northward migration to the grounds. The total number of species of helminths recovered was 28 and life cycles of at least 19 of these were occurring on the island. Twenty-five species were categorised as generalists and three were undetermined. One to three species of helminths were dominant in each host species. Eight species, to various degrees, were common among the four species of host. Most sharing occurred in the mucosal trematode guild. Similarities berween resident Charadrius ruficapillus and migrant A. interpres was 32.7%, while the mean number of species and mean number of helminths were significantly higher inA. inter pres. Except for five new species found in this study, all other species of helminths have been described or reported from charadriids or related hosts from other continents. The pool of helminth parasites capable of infecting shorebirds was well established on King Island.