Seasonal and Biogeographical Patterns of Gastrointestinal Parasites in Large Carnivores: Wolves in a Coastal Archipelago

摘要: Parasites are increasingly recognized for their profound influences on individual, population and ecosystem health. We provide the first report of gastrointestinal parasites in gray wolves from central north coasts British Columbia, Canada. Across 60 000 km 2, wolf feces were collected 34 packs 2005-2008. At a smaller spatial scale (3300 2), 8 sampled spring autumn. Parasite eggs, larvae, cysts identified using standard flotation techniques morphology. A subset samples was analysed by PCR sequencing to identify tapeworm eggs (n=9) Giardia (n=14). detected ≥14 parasite taxa 1558 fecal samples. Sarcocystis sporocysts occurred most frequently (43·7%), followed taeniid (23·9%), Diphyllobothrium (9·1%), (6·8%), Toxocara canis (2·1%), Cryptosporidium oocysts (1·7%). Other 1% feces. Genetic analyses revealed Echinococcus canadensis strains G8 G10, Taenia ovis krabbei, nehonkaiense, duodenalis assemblages B. prevalence differed between seasons island/mainland sites. Patterns reflect seasonal resource use wolf-salmon associations. These data unique, extensive solid baseline monitoring community structure relation environmental change.