02435nas a2200229 4500008004100000022001400041245007000055210006900125260001600194300000900210490000700219520174500226653001801971653001801989653002802007653001302035100002502048700001602073700003002089700002202119856006402141 2024 eng d a1751-836900aSvalbard rock ptarmigan: a first glimpse into parasite infections0 aSvalbard rock ptarmigan a first glimpse into parasite infections cApr-23-2024 a9 pp0 v433 a

Natural ecosystems are under stress due to climate change and impacts are especially prominent at high latitudes. Manifestations of these changes include northward shifts in the distribution of birds, phenological mismatches, improved survival of parasites in the environment and the arrival of new parasite vectors and intermediate hosts. We collected baseline data on parasite infections in the Svalbard rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta hyperborea), which is endemic to two High Arctic archipelagos, by sampling 10 birds caught in September–October 2015 in Van Mijenfjorden, Spitsbergen. Five species were found, three endo- and two ectoparasites. The endoparasites included a nematode, Heterakis sp. (prevalence 10%), and two species of Eimeria, all with direct life cycles. The Eimeria species are provisionally called Eimeria sp. A and sp. B (prevalence 50% and 20%; mean intensity 1560 and 1850 oocysts per g faeces, respectively). Both show morphological similarities with known rock ptarmigan eimeriids, but further taxonomic research is needed to describe their phylogenetic relationships. The two ectoparasites, the ischnoceran chewing lice Goniodes lagopi and Lagopoecus affinis, both showed 90% prevalence and a mean intensity of 18.3 and 5.6, respectively. The eimeriids are host specific, and the chewing lice are common parasites of closely related grouse species. On the basis of our knowledge of rock ptarmigan parasites, Heterakis sp. is considered a generalist parasite. The parasite fauna of the Svalbard rock ptarmigan is impoverished compared with conspecific populations in other Arctic locations, such as Iceland and Greenland.

10aectoparasites10aEndoparasites10aLagopus muta hyperborea10aNematoda1 aNielsen, Ólafur, K.1 aFuglei, Eva1 aPedersen, Åshild, Ønvik1 aSkírnisson, Karl uhttps://polarresearch.net/index.php/polar/article/view/950600693nas a2200157 4500008004100000245011200041210006900153260001300222300001200235490000700247520011400254100002300368700003100391700002200422856009100444 2022 eng d00aFirst record of Philopterus timmermanni (Zlotorzycka, 1964c) (Phthiraptera, Ischnocera) from Iceland0 aFirst record ofi Philopterus timmermannii Zlotorzycka 1964c Phth cNov 2022 a229-2310 v693 a

Lice were collected on a specimen of Redwing Turdus iliacus coburni (Aves, Passeriformes, Turdidae).

1 aBernal_Sosa, Iván1 aTalabante-Ramírez, Carlos1 aSkírnisson, Karl uhttp://www.entomologi.no/journals/nje/2022-2/pdf/nje-vol69-no2-2022-229-231-bernal.pdf02236nas a2200205 4500008004100000245012700041210006900168260001400237300001000251490000600261520155600267653001601823653001801839653001101857653001501868100002201883700001801905700002501923856008201948 2021 eng d00aNorwegian rock ptarmigan ectoparasites: chewing lice (Phthiraptera, Ischnocera) and feather mites (Astigmata, Psoroptidia)0 aNorwegian rock ptarmigan ectoparasites chewing lice Phthiraptera cJune 2021 a33-400 v13 a

Feather mites (Astigmata, Psoroptidia), quill mites (Prostigmata, Syringophilidae) and chewing lice (Phthiraptera) are prominent parts of avian ectoparasites communities. Much attention has been directed to chewing lice but much less to mite infestations. The present study determined the prevalence and species of feather mites among Norwegian rock ptarmigan. Ten rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta (Montin, 1781), six juveniles and four adults) collected in September 2012 at HOI, Odda: Møyfallsnuten, Norway (EIS 32, UTM 32V 6691051N 33427E), were examined for ectoparasites. Four species of ectoparasites were found, including two feather mites and two chewing lice. The feather mites Tetraolichus lagopi Mironov et al., 2010 and Strelkoviacarus holoaspis Mironov et al., 2010, are species new to Norway. T. lagopi was highly prevalent (80%), with a mean intensity of 9.1 mites, while both prevalence (30%) and mean intensity (1.7 mites) were lower for S. holoaspis. Chewing lice Goniodes lagopi (Linnaeus, 1758) and Lagopoecus affinis (Children, 1836) are well known parasites of rock and willow ptarmigan (Lagopus lagopus) in Norway. Both G. lagopi (90%) and L. affinis (70%) were highly prevalent, with mean intensities of 7.9 and 4.6 lice, respectively. These rock ptarmigan ectoparasites are host-specific or parasitic to other closely related species (Lagopus, Tetrao, Lyrurus, and Falcipennis), and all have a very long history of association with their tetraonid (Tetraoninae) hosts reaching back to the North American heartland.

10acoevolution10ahost specific10aNorway10aparasitism1 aSkírnisson, Karl1 aBergan, Frode1 aNielsen, Ólafur, K. uhttp://www.entomologi.no/journals/nje/2021-1/pdf/nje-vol68-no1-2021-33-40.pdf02921nas a2200217 4500008004100000245007300041210006900114260001600183300001300199490000700212520225500219653001702474653003002491653001902521100002002540700002502560700002202585700002402607700002002631856005202651 2016 eng d00aHost-Parasite Interactions and Population Dynamics of Rock Ptarmigan0 aHostParasite Interactions and Population Dynamics of Rock Ptarmi cSep-11-2017 ae01652930 v113 a

Populations of rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) in Iceland fluctuate in multiannual cycles with peak numbers c. every 10 years. We studied the ptarmigan-parasite community and how parasites relate to ptarmigan age, body condition, and population density. We collected 632 ptarmigan in northeast Iceland in early October from 2006 to 2012; 630 (99.7%) were infected with at least one parasite species, 616 (98%) with ectoparasites, and 536 (85%) with endoparasites. We analysed indices for the combined parasite community (16 species) and known pathogenic parasites, two coccidian protozoans Eimeria muta and Eimeria rjupa, two nematodes Capillaria caudinflata and Trichostrongylus tenuis, one chewing louse Amyrsidea lagopi, and one skin mite Metamicrolichus islandicus. Juveniles overall had more ectoparasites than adults, but endoparasite levels were similar in both groups. Ptarmi- gan population density was associated with endoparasites, and in particular prevalence of the coccidian parasite Eimeria muta. Annual aggregation level of this eimerid fluctuated inversely with prevalence, with lows at prevalence peak and vice versa. Both prevalence and aggregation of E. muta tracked ptarmigan population density with a 1.5 year time lag. The time lag could be explained by the host specificity of this eimerid, host density depen- dent shedding of oocysts, and their persistence in the environment from one year to the next. Ptarmigan body condition was negatively associated with E. muta prevalence, an indi- cation of their pathogenicity, and this eimerid was also positively associated with ptarmigan mortality and marginally inversely with fecundity. There were also significant associations between fecundity and chewing louse Amyrsidea lagopi prevalence (negative), excess juve- nile mortality and nematode Capillaria caudinflata prevalence (positive), and adult mortality and skin mite Metamicrolichus islandicus prevalence (negative). Though this study is corre- lational, it provides strong evidence that E. muta through time-lag in prevalence with respect to host population size and by showing significant relations with host body condition, mortal- ity, and fecundity could destabilize ptarmigan population dynamics in Iceland.

10aectoparasite10aHost-parasite interaction10aRock Ptarmigan1 aStenkewitz, Ute1 aNielsen, Ólafur, K.1 aSkírnisson, Karl1 aStefánsson, Gunnar1 aBoyce, Mark, S. uhttp://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pone.016529302503nas a2200205 4500008004100000022001400041245008000055210006900135260001600204300001400220520187000234653001702104653001802121653001902139100002002158700002502178700002202203700002402225856004802249 2017 eng d a0909-639600aFeather holes of rock ptarmigan are associated with amblyceran chewing lice0 aFeather holes of rock ptarmigan are associated with amblyceran c cJan-06-2017 awlb.002553 a

Feather holes have traditionally been suggested to be feeding traces of chewing lice (mallophagans). There is controversy whether mallophagans are the real source of feather holes. We studied mallophagan infestations and holes in tail feathers of 528 rock ptarmigan Lagopus muta collected 2007–2012 in northeast Iceland. Three mallophagans were found, Amyrsidea lagopi (prevalence 13%), Goniodes lagopi (72%) and Lagopoecus affinis (51%). The prevalence of feather holes was 15% and based on pattern the holes could be separated into two groups termed feather hole swarms (FHS), prevalence 9%, and single holes (SH), prevalence 6%. Holes for FHS were concentrated in the central tail feathers and decreased outwards, but holes for SH did not show any such pattern. There was a significant positive relationship between the number of holes for FHS birds and A. lagopi number, and the prevalence was similar. No other combinations of FHS or SH and the mal- lophagans indicated any relationship. The observed differences between FHS and SH suggest that feather holes have dif- ferent origin. Our thesis based on known feeding habits of amblycerans like A. lagopi is that the holes in FHS are created during the pin feather stage when the lice bite the pin feather to draw blood. The holes in FHS were often in lines parallel to the feather shaft and the distance between adjacent holes was similar to the daily growth band, and where apparent the holes were sitting in the light portion of the band suggesting diurnal rhythm in lice feeding activity. Concluding, feather holes in ptarmigan may have various origins, but there is a clear correlation between the presence and numbers of A. lagopi and FHS. This is a novel finding for the grouse family and the genus Amyrsidea and should be a valuable contribution to the studies of feather hole formation.

10aChewing lice10afeather holes10aRock Ptarmigan1 aStenkewitz, Ute1 aNielsen, Ólafur, K.1 aSkírnisson, Karl1 aStefánsson, Gunnar uhttp://www.bioone.org/doi/10.2981/wlb.0025502045nas a2200217 4500008004100000022001400041245009300055210006600148260001600214300001400230490000700244520137300251653001901624653001801643653001801661653002401679100002701703700002201730700002501752856005001777 2015 eng d a0090-355800aThe Parasite Fauna of the Gyrfalcon ( Falco rusticolus ) in Iceland0 aParasite Fauna of the Gyrfalcon iFalco rusticolusi in Iceland cJan-10-2015 a929 - 9330 v513 a

We examined 46 Gyrfalcon (Falco rusticolus) carcasses from Iceland for parasites, including 29 first-year birds and 17 second-year birds and older. Endoparasites observed were the trematodes Cryptocotyle lingua (preva- lence 8%), Cryptocotyle concavum (4%), and Strigea sp. (8%); the cestode Mesocestoides sp. (27%); and the nematodes Eucoleus contortus (76%) and Serratospiculum guttatum (7%). Ectoparasites included the astigmatan mite Dubininia accipitrina (47%), a mesostigmatan rhynonyssid mite (4%), the tick Ixodes caledo- nicus (20%), the mallophagans Degeeriella rufa (90%) and Nosopon lucidum (7%), the flea Ceratophyllus vagabundus (7%), and the louse fly Ornithomya chloropus (7%). Cryptocotyle lingua, C. concavum, S. guttatum, D. accipi- trina, I. caledonicus, and N. lucidum are new host records. Of the five most common parasites (prevalence $20%) only Mesoces- toides sp. showed a significant age relationship, being more prevalent in adult falcons (P50.021). Eucoleus contortus was also more prevalent in adults with marginal statistical significance (P50.058). Frounce, caused by E. contortus (possibly also by Trichomonas galli- nae, which was not searched for in the survey) was highly prevalent (43%), but did not show a relationship with host age (P50.210). Birds with frounce were in poorer body condition than healthy birds (P50.015).

10aBody condition10aectoparasites10aEndoparasites10aEucoleus contortus.1 aChristensen, Nanna, D.1 aSkírnisson, Karl1 aNielsen, Ólafur, K. uhttp://www.bioone.org/doi/10.7589/2015-01-02202715nas a2200229 4500008004100000022001400041245011000055210006900165260001600234520192500250653002302175653001202198653001402210653002302224653001902247653001102266100002002277700002502297700002202322700002402344856011702368 2014 eng d a2193-719200aThe relationship between parasites and spleen and bursa mass in the Icelandic Rock Ptarmigan Lagopus muta0 arelationship between parasites and spleen and bursa mass in the  cApr-12-20153 a

The spleen and bursa of Fabricius in birds are organs that play an important role in fighting parasite infections. The size of these organs can be used by ecol- ogists as a measure of immune investment, with larger size implying greater investment. The bursa only occurs in juvenile birds during the development of the B cell reper- toire, whereas the spleen, which is the main site of lym- phocyte differentiation and proliferation, is present in both juveniles and adults. We investigated spleen and bursa mass in relation to parasite measures for 541 Rock Ptar- migan Lagopus muta collected in northeast Iceland during October from 2007 to 2012. Of these 541birds, 540 carried at least one parasite species. Juveniles had heavier spleens than adults, and adult females had heavier spleens than adult males, but there were no sex differences in juveniles. Spleen mass increased from 2007 to 2009, then decreased up to 2011, before slightly increasing again in 2012. Spleen and bursa mass in juveniles increased with improved body condition, but decreased in adults, and this effect differed significantly among years. Spleen mass in juveniles was positively associated with parasite species richness and abundance, in particular endoparasite abundance, with coccidian parasites being the main predictors. Bursa mass was negatively associated with elevated ectoparasite abundance, with two chewing lice being the main predic- tors. These two immune defense organs appeared to relate to different stimuli. Mean annual spleen mass of juveniles changed in synchrony with Ptarmigan body condition and population density over the years of this study. The only parasite measure that showed any relation to density was coccidian prevalence in juvenile birds, with an approxi- mately 2-year time-lag, suggesting that factors other than parasites are probably more important in triggering chan- ges in spleen mass.

10aBursa of Fabricius10aIceland10aparasites10apopulation density10aRock Ptarmigan10aspleen1 aStenkewitz, Ute1 aNielsen, Ólafur, K.1 aSkírnisson, Karl1 aStefánsson, Gunnar uhttp://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10336-014-1141-xhttp://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s10336-014-1141-x01864nas a2200169 4500008004100000022001400041245014200055210006900197260001200266300001200278490000700290520124900297100002201546700003201568700002501600856006901625 2012 eng d a1525-264700aThe parasite fauna of Rock Ptarmigan (Lagopus muta) in Iceland: prevalence, intensity, and distribution within the host population0 aparasite fauna of Rock Ptarmigan iLagopus mutai in Iceland preva c01/2012 a44 - 550 v793 aOne hundred rock ptarmigan (Lagopus muta), including 30 each of juvenile males and females, and 20 each of adult males and females, were collected in October 2006 in northeast Iceland to study their parasite fauna. Fourteen different parasite species were identified: 6 endoparasites (including the protozoans Eimeria muta, Eimeria rjupa; the heterokontophyt Blastocystis sp.; the nematodes Capillaria caudinflata and Trichostrongylus tenuis; and the cestode Passerilepis serpentulus) and 8 ectoparasites (including the feather mites Metamicrolichus islandicus, Strelkoviacarus holoaspis, Tetraolichus lagopi, and Myialges borealis; the feather lice Goniodes lagopi, Lagopoecus affinis, and Amyrsidea lagopi; and the louse fly Ornithomya chloropus). Blastocystis sp., P. serpentulus and A. lagopi are new host records. All parasite species showed aggregated distributions. Six species, E. rjupa, P. serpentulus, M. islandicus, G. lagopi, L. affinis, and O. chloropus, were more prevalent in juveniles than in adults, and 2 species, Blastocystis sp. and T. tenuis, were more prevalent in adults than in juveniles. The remaining species did not show age-related differences in prevalence. Blastocystis sp. is the only possible zoonotic parasite.1 aSkírnisson, Karl1 aThorarinsdottir, Solrun, T.1 aNielsen, Ólafur, K. uhttp://phthiraptera.info/sites/phthiraptera.info/files/61667.pdf00544nas a2200121 4500008004100000245018400041210006900225300001300294490000700307100002200314700001700336856006900353 1990 eng d00aParasites of seals in Icelandic waters with special reference to the heartworm Dipetalonema spirocauda Leidy, 1858 and the sucking louse Echinopthirius (sic) horridus Olfers, 19160 aParasites of seals in Icelandic waters with special reference to a93 - 1020 v601 aSkírnisson, Karl1 aOlafsson, E. uhttp://phthiraptera.info/sites/phthiraptera.info/files/47888.pdf