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Contrasting regulation of fecundity in two abomasal nematodes of Svalbard reindeer (Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 July 2001

R. J. IRVINE ,
A. STIEN ,
J. F. DALLAS ,
O. HALVORSEN ,
R. LANGVATN  and
S. D. ALBON
R. J. IRVINE
Affiliation:
Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Hill of Brathens, Banchory AB31 4BY, UK Department of Biological and Molecular Sciences, University of Stirling, Stirling FK9 4LA, Scotland
A. STIEN
Affiliation:
Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Hill of Brathens, Banchory AB31 4BY, UK
J. F. DALLAS
Affiliation:
NERC Molecular Genetics in Ecology Initiative, Department of Zoology, University of Aberdeen, Tillydrone Avenue Aberdeen, AB24 2TZ, UK
O. HALVORSEN
Affiliation:
Zoological Museum, University of Oslo, Sarsgate 1, N-0562 Oslo, Norway
R. LANGVATN
Affiliation:
University Courses in Svalbard (UNIS) Longyearbyen, N-9170, Norway Norwegian Institute for Nature Research (NINA), Tungasletta-2, N-7485 Trondheim, Norway
S. D. ALBON
Affiliation:
Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, Hill of Brathens, Banchory AB31 4BY, UK
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Abstract

Stability of trichostrogylid populations indicates that some form of density-dependent regulation occurs which could act through fecundity. We present evidence for intraspecific density-dependent effects in 1 of 2, dominant, abomasal nematodes species (Ostertagia gruehneri) of Svalbard reindeer (Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus). We found evidence in O. gruehneri, for density-dependent regulation of female worm length in April, July and October 1999. However, it is only in July that female worm length explains the variation in the number of eggs in utero which is also related to egg production per female worm only in this month and not at other times of the year. The seasonal pattern in faecal egg output in this species focuses egg production in the summer months when conditions are favourable to transmission. In contrast, we found no evidence in the other common species (Marshallagia marshalli) for density-dependent regulation of female worm length during or the number of eggs in utero. Faecal egg output in M. marshalli was positively related to worm burden but not to the mean number of eggs in utero. Neither inter-specific interactions nor host body condition appeared to influence worm fecundity. The contrasting patterns of density-dependent regulation of fecundity provides further evidence for divergent life-histories in this nematode community.

Keywords

nematodefecunditydensity dependencereindeerparasitespopulation dynamicslife-history
Type
Research Article
Information
Parasitology , Volume 122 , Issue 6 , June 2001 , pp. 673 - 681
Copyright
© 2001 Cambridge University Press

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