Survey of Tapeworm Prevalence and Abundance in American Woodcock ( Scolopax minor ) Hunted in Wisconsin
Kylie Lieven (Not Pictured)
Madisen Miller Biology
Wildlife Ecology and Management
American Woodcock are migratory, Scolopacid shore birds that inhabit the early successional forests of the eastern United States. Their forest habitat and earthworm-based diet distinguish them from other shorebirds. The distinct life history of the American Woodcock also affects the cestodes (tapeworms) specific to American Woodcock. Our research objective was to survey the tapeworms in American Woodcock hunted in Wisconsin. Hunter donated carcasses were measured, external characteristics noted, organs removed and examined for parasites. Parasites belonging to major groups were separated and fixed in 80% ethanol for future morphological and molecular identification. Tapeworms can be identified by their scolex morphology, rostellar hook number, size, and structure of segments. When the tapeworms are in subpar conditions for morphological study, identification can be done based on DNA sequences with the NAD1 gene being the commonly used marker. Based on preliminary morphological identification, 56 of the 79 woodcock surveyed had tapeworms present, belonging to the families Hymenolepididae and Dilepididae. Intensity of infection ranged between one tapeworm to upwards of 100 tapeworms per bird. We analyzed infection as present or absent using a generalized linear model of sex, age, and collected year. We used a X 2 test to identify patterns of coinfection between different tapeworms and trematodes ( Pseudapatemon spp). We collected three unique species of tapeworms, but there were no significant patterns with any explanatory variables. The presence of multiple tapeworm species belonging to different genera could indicate that there are other prey items that may constitute a significant proportion of woodcock diet.
Advisors: Roxanne Gasperetti Vasyl Tkach, Ph.D. Mike Kinsella, Ph.D. Sarah Orlofske, Ph.D.
Subject Area: Wildlife
Type: Poster
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Jim and Katie Krause CNR Student Research Symposium
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