Fróðskaparrit - 01.01.2002, Page 137

VISTFRØÐIN HJÁ INNVORTIS SNÍKUM í LUNDA
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was a significant age difference with re-
spect to trematode infestation; the older
birds being more heavily infested than the
younger ones (M-W, U=293; p=0.02).
There was no statistical difference for the
relative intensity of infestation with ces-
todes (M-W, U=466; p=0.69) or nematodes
(t-test, t35= -0.04, p=0.97). Only the older
category of puffins was infested with pen-
tastomes.
Seasonal effects
To investigate a possible seasonal pattern,
the period of collection was classified into
two: period 1 (03 to 17 July) and period 2
(18 July to 02 August). There was no dif-
ference in mean intensities of infestation
between the two periods: trematodes (t-test,
t|73=0.744 p=0.46), cestodes (M-W,
U=3440; p=0.34) and nematodes (M-W,
U=3379, p=0.16). Three of the four birds
infested with pentastomes were collected in
the latter period.
Discussion
Intermediate hosts
The various endoparasites, but for the pen-
tastomes, enter the host in food organisms
serving as intermediate hosts. Puffins are
predominately piscivorous foragers. Their
typical food species in the summer period
are sandeel (Ammodytes spp.), sprat (Sprat-
tus sprattus), capelin (Mallotus villosus),
whiting (Merlangius merlángus), saithe
(Pollachius virens), red fish (Sebastes mar-
inus), haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefi-
nus), herring (Clitpea harengus), five-
bearded rockling (Ciliata mustela), north-
ern rockling (Ciliata septentrionalis) and
three-bearded rockling (Gaidropsarus vul-
garis), but there are variations within sea-
Table 2. The position and number of parasites, and organ encountered (Oesoph. = Oesophagus; Intestinel =
Anterior part ofthe snmll intestine; 1ntestine2 = Middle part of the small intestine; Intestine3 = Posterior part
of tlie small intestine (all of equal length); Trachea + Pr. br. = Trachea + Primary bronchi).
Talva 2. Skipanarlig staðseting, mongd, og í hvørjum lívgagni snýkarnir eru skrásettir (Oesophagus + Crop =
Vælindi + Kjós; Duodenum = Buggørn; Intestinel = Fremsti partur av gørn; Intestine2 = Mittasti partur av
gørn; Intestine3 = Aftasti partur av gørn (allir eins til longdar); Gall bladder = Gallbløðra; Trachea + Pr. br. =
Barki + Høvuðslungnapípur).
Oesoph. Gizzard Duo- Intestine Intestine Intestinc Rectum Gall Kidneys Liver Trachea
+ Crop. dcnum. 1 2 3 bladder + Pr. br.
Trematodes Gymnophallus sp. Cestodes 314 7
Alcataenia sp. 10 3 71 39 i i
Hymenolepidae
sp. indet. 1
Nematodes Pentastomes 34 16
Reighardia sp. i 3 3 37