Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-hc48f Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T00:17:58.641Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Cyclic and non-cyclic dynamics in populations of the helminth parasites of wood mice, Apodemus sylvaticus

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 June 2009

S. S. J. Montgomery  and
W. I. Montgomery
S. S. J. Montgomery
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, The Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast BT7 INN, Northern Ireland
W. I. Montgomery
Affiliation:
Department of Zoology, The Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast BT7 INN, Northern Ireland
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Two populations of Apodemus sylvaticus, one in deciduous woodland and another in coniferous forest in Co. Down, Northern Ireland, were trapped at monthly intervals over 33 months. The dynamics, reproduction and age structure of the mouse populations differed between years with over a 40 fold range of population size. Nine species of helminths were recovered from the alimentary tract and associated organs of the mice. The prevalence and mean worm burden of the cestodes, Catenotaenia lobata, Hymenolepis hibernia and Taenia taeniaeformis varied erratically. The trematodes, Corrigia vitta and to a lesser degree Brachylaima recurva, had seasonal changes in abundance. The nematodes Capillaria murissylvatici and Nematospiroides dubius had strongly seasonal cycles of abundance associated with the onset of host reproduction. Trichuris muris was the rarest helminth. Despite protracted periods of absence this species maintained a seasonal increase in mean worm burden in late winter. The nematode, Syphacia stroma, had a weakly seasonal pattern of dynamics. The bases of these cyclical and non-cyclical dynamics of the helminths of A. sylvaticus are discussed.

Keywords

Apodemus sylvaticuspopulation dynamicsCatenotaenia lobataHymenolepis hiberniaTaenia taeniaeformisCorrigia vittaBrachylaima recurvaCapillaria murissylvaticiNematospiroides dubiusTrichuris murisSyphacia stromaNorthern Ireland.
Type
Research Papers
Information
Journal of Helminthology , Volume 62 , Issue 1 , March 1988 , pp. 78 - 90
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1988

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Anderson, R. M. & May, R. M. (1978) Regulation and stability of host parasite population interactions. I. Regulatory processes. Journal of Animal Ecology, 47, 219–247.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Behnke, J. M. & Parish, H. A. (1979) Nematospiroides dubius: arrested development of larvae in immune mice. Experimental Parasitology, 47, 116–127.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Clarke, J. R. (1985) The reproductive biology of the bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus) and the wood mouse (Apodemus sylvaticus). Symposium of the Zoological Society of London, 55, 33–59.Google Scholar
Elton, C. S., Ford, E. B., Baker, J. R. & Gardner, A. D. (1931) The health and parasites of a wild mouse population. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London, 1931, 657–721.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Flowerdew, J. R. (1985) The population dynamics of wood mice and yellow-necked mice. Symposium of the Zoological Society of London, 55, 315–338.Google Scholar
Hansson, L. (1985) The food of bank voles, wood mice and yellow-necked mice. Symposium of the Zoological Society of London, 55, 141–168.Google Scholar
Healing, T. D. & Nowell, F. (1985) Diseases and parasites of woodland rodent populations. Symposium of the Zoological Society of London, 55, 193–218.Google Scholar
Hominick, W. M. & Aston, A. J. (1981) Association between Pelodera strongyloides (Nematoda:Rhabditidae) and woodmice, Apodemus sylvaticus. Parasitology, 64, 402–412.Google Scholar
Keymer, A. E. & Dobson, A. P. (1987) The ecology of helminths in populations of small mammals. Mammal Review, 17, 105–116.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Langley, R. & Fairley, J. S. (1982) Seasonal variation in infestations in wood mouse Apodemus sylvaticus populations in the West of Ireland. Journal of Zoology, 198, 249–261.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lewis, J. W. (1964) Studies on the helminth parasites of small mammals from selected areas in Wales. Ph.D. thesis, University of Wales.Google Scholar
Lewis, J. W. (1968) Studies on the helminth parasites of the long-tailed field mouse, Apodemus sylvaticus from Wales. Journal of Zoology, 154, 287–312.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Margolis, L., Esch, G. W., Holmes, J. C., Kuris, A. M. & Schad, G. A. (1982) The use of ecological terms in parasitology (report of an ad hoc) committee of The American Society of Parasitologists. Journal of Parasitology, 68, 131–133.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Montgomery, S. S. J. (1980) Parasitic helminths of Apodemus sylvaticus from Co. Down. Irish Naturalists' Journal, 20, 80.Google Scholar
Montgomery, S. S. J. (1982) A field study on the ecology of Apodemus sylvaticus (Rodentia: Muridae) and its helminth parasites. Ph.D. thesis, Queen's University of Belfast.Google Scholar
Montgomery, W. I. & Gurnell, J. (1985) The behaviour of Apodemus. Symposium of the Zoological Society of London, 55, 89–115.Google Scholar
Murua, R. D. (1978) Studies on the ecology of parasites of Apodemus sylvaticus and Clethrionomys glareolus (Schreb.) (Rodentia) analysis of the parasite populations and their seasonal variation in the Bristol area. Acta Parasitologica Polonica, 25, 149–161.Google Scholar
Nasher, A. (1976) Observations on the biology of some small mammal parasites from S.E. Essex. Ph.D. thesis, University of London.Google Scholar
O'Sullivan, H. M., Smal, C. M. & Fairley, J. S. (1984) A study of parasite infestations in populations of small rodents (Apodemus sylvaticus and Clethrionomys glareolus) on Ross Island, Killarney. Journal of Life Sciences of the Royal Dublin Society, 5, 29–42.Google Scholar
Rainbow, V. M. T. (1971) Studies on the helminth parasites of small mammals, with particular reference to the ecology and physiology of Nematospiroides dubius, Baylis, 1926. Ph.D. thesis. University of London.Google Scholar
Scott, M. E. & Lewis, J. W. (1987) Population dynamics of helminth parasites in wild and laboratory rodents. Mammal Review, 17, 95–103.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sharpe, G. I. (1961) Parasite populations in small mammals. Ph.D. thesis, University of Bristol.Google Scholar
Sharpe, G. I. (1964) The helminth populations of some small mammal communities. I. The parasites and their hosts. Parasitology, 54, 145–154.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Smyth, J. D. (1976) Introduction to Animal Parasitology. Hodder and Stoughton, London.Google Scholar
Timon-David, J. (1959) Recherches sur les kystes à Brachylaimus du cyclostoma. Annales de Parasitologie Humaine et Comparée, 34, 271–287.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wolton, R. J. & Flowerdew, J. R. (1985) Spatial distribution and movements of wood mice, yellow-necked mice and bank voles. Symposium of the Zoological Society of London, 55, 249–275.Google Scholar