Patterns in the dynamics and distribution of parasite abundance in small mammals

E.P. Ieshko, S.V. Bugmyrin, V.S. Anikanova and Ju.L. Pavlov

Proceedings of the Zoological Institute RAS, 2009, 313(3): 319–328 · https://doi.org/10.31610/trudyzin/2009.313.3.319

Full text

Abstract

Abundance distribution patterns of the cestode Ditestolepis diaphana (Colodkowsky, 1906) in the common shrew Sorex araneus L., 1758 and the nematode Heligmosomum mixtum (Schulz, 1952) in the bank vole Myodes glareolus (Schreber 1780) populations were investigated. We prove that in most cases parasite abundances are modeled by negative binomial distribution (NBD). The patterns revealed for the parasite species studied evidence relations in the host–parasite system to be quite steady. An attempt was made to interpret NBD parameters describing variations of mean abundance and variance of the parasite abundances, which are apparently due to differences in host susceptibility.

Key words

parasite, abundance, small mammals, negative binomial distribution

Submitted February 18, 2009 · Accepted June 1, 2009 · Published September 25, 2009

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