AVIS-IBIS

Birds of Indian Subcontinent

Dust-Ruffling: A Simple Method for Quantifying Ectoparasite Loads of Live Birds (Sacudidas de Polvo: Un Metodo Sencillo para Cuantificar las Cargas de Ectoparasitos en Aves Vivas)

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:1997
Authors:Walther, BA, Clayton, DH
Journal:Journal of Field Ornithology
Volume:68
Issue:4
Date Published:1997
ISBN Number:02738570
Keywords:Philomachus, Philomachus pugnax, Scolopacidae
Abstract:We present a simple, accurate method for quantifying the ectoparasite loads of live birds in the field. Birds were dusted with pyrethrin to irritate their ectoparasites, which were then dislodged from the plumage by ruffling the feathers over a collecting surface for repeated timed bouts until the point of diminishing returns was reached. This method required less equipment and was more accurate and efficient than previously described methods, as we show by comparing our method to other popular approaches. Dust-ruffling is best suited for sampling "permanent" ectoparasites, such as chewing lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera), which pass their entire life cycle on the body of the host. /// Presentamos un método sencillo y preciso para cuantificar las cargas de ectoparásitos de aves vivas en el campo. Se polvorea las aves con pyrethrina para irritar los ectoparásitos, los cuales son removidos del plumaje al agitar las plumas sobre una superficie de colección en ocasiones consecutivas hasta que se llegue al punto de cargas menores. Este método requiere menos equipo y es más preciso y eficiente que métodos previamente descritos, lo cual evidenciamos al comparar nuestro método con otros métodos comunes. Las sacudidas de polvo es más apropiado para muestrear ectoparásitos permanentes, tales como Phthiraptera, que pasan su ciclo de vida completo en el cuerpo del hospedero.
URL:http://www.jstor.org/stable/4514260
Short Title:Journal of Field Ornithology
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith