Robel, R.J., Walker, T.L., Jr., Hagen, C.A., Ridley, R.K., Kemp, K.E. & Applegate, R.D. 2003: Helminth parasites of lesser prairie-chicken Tympanuchus pallidicinctus in southwestern Kansas: incidence, burdens and effects. - Wildl. Biol. 9: 341-349.
We conducted a 3-year study of helminth parasites to assess their effect on the lesser prairie-chicken Tympanuchus pallidicinctus. Helminth parasites were found in most of the examined wild prairie chicken carcasses: 95% had eye worm Oxyspirura petrowi, 92% had stomach worm Tetrameres sp., and 59% had caecal worm Subulura sp. Few parasite burdens or incidences of infection were related to prairie chicken body mass, gender, age or season of collection. Droppings from transmitter-equipped prairie chickens were examined for parasite eggs and the data were used to determine which free-ranging prairie chickens harboured parasites. Telemetry data from 46 heavily parasitized and 52 lightly parasitized or parasite-free prairie chickens indicated no difference between mean daily movements, monthly home ranges, clutch sizes, nest success or survival. No adverse impacts were evident in the lesser prairie-chicken population from the incidences or burdens of the helminth parasites found in our study.
Key words: burdens, effects, helminth parasites, incidence, lesser prairiechicken, southwestern Kansas, Tympanuchus pallidicinctus
Robert J. Robel, Thomas L. Walker, Jr. & Christian A. Hagen, Division of Biology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA, 66506 - e-mail addresses: rjrobel@ksu.edu (Robert J. Robel); tjwalker@ngpe.state.ne.us (Thomas L. Walker); cah3939@ksu.edu (Christian A. Hagen)
Robert K. Ridley, Department of Diagnostic Medicine and Pathobiology, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA, 66506 - e-mail: rkridley@ksu.edu
Kenneth E. Kemp, Department of Statistics, Kansas State University, Manhattan, Kansas, USA, 66506 - e-mail: kekemp@ksu.edu
Roger D. Applegate, Research and Survey Office, Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, Emporia, Kansas, USA, 66801 - e-mail: rogera@wp.state.ks.us
Corresponding author: Robert J. Robel