Endoparasite Community of the Invasive Grey-Headed Swamphen (Porphyrio poliocephalus)
Location
HCAS Guy Harvey Oceanographic Center, Nova Southeastern University
Start
2-13-2025 2:45 PM
End
2-13-2025 3:00 PM
Type of Presentation
Oral Presentation
Abstract
Native to southeast Asia, the Grey-Headed Swamphen (Porphyrio poliocephalus) is a recent invasive to south Florida. After escaping from captivity in 1996 from Pembroke Pines, they are expanding their invasive range northwards, along the east coast of Florida. In their invasive range, they consume primarily Eleorchis cellulose and Panicum seeds and occupy the same wetland marsh habitat as native Gruiform rails. A method in monitoring the progress of their invasion is to examine their endoparasite community. Endoparasites are acquired primarily through a host’s diet preferences and secondarily through the local environment with many parasites requiring multiple host taxa to complete their lifecycle. Additionally, as parasites tend to be specialists in their choice of host, it takes time for them to adjust to the presence of a new host environment. This study aims to compare the endoparasite community of P. poliocephalus to nine native rail species. These hosts were chosen due to niche and phylogenetic similarities. Specimens were caught and euthanized from Water Conservation Areas 2 and 3 via a partnership with FWC and non-swamphen carcasses are received frozen from six wildlife rehabilitation centers across south Florida. Dissections targeting the gastrointestinal tract are performed after carcasses thaw for 24 hours. Parasite intensity, load, and species richness are recorded for each specimen. After dissection, parasites are stained in acetocarmine, mounted on slides, and identified to the lowest possible taxa. Thus far, native rails have an overall species richness of 19 and an infection prevalence of 74.7%. The only infections of P. poliocephalus in Florida have been by Hystrichis sp. (Nematoda: Dioctophymidae) at a rate of 12.5%. In their endemic range, there are records of echinostome (Digenea: Echinostomatidae) infections. With the combined instances of rapid population growth and lack of parasitic infections, the enemy release hypothesis is strongly evident in this system. Spillback, when native parasites infect nonnative hosts, is also occurring with the presence of the native generalist nematode, Hystrichis sp. Meanwhile spillover, when a nonnative host’s endemic range parasites infect native hosts, does not appear to be active.
Endoparasite Community of the Invasive Grey-Headed Swamphen (Porphyrio poliocephalus)
HCAS Guy Harvey Oceanographic Center, Nova Southeastern University
Native to southeast Asia, the Grey-Headed Swamphen (Porphyrio poliocephalus) is a recent invasive to south Florida. After escaping from captivity in 1996 from Pembroke Pines, they are expanding their invasive range northwards, along the east coast of Florida. In their invasive range, they consume primarily Eleorchis cellulose and Panicum seeds and occupy the same wetland marsh habitat as native Gruiform rails. A method in monitoring the progress of their invasion is to examine their endoparasite community. Endoparasites are acquired primarily through a host’s diet preferences and secondarily through the local environment with many parasites requiring multiple host taxa to complete their lifecycle. Additionally, as parasites tend to be specialists in their choice of host, it takes time for them to adjust to the presence of a new host environment. This study aims to compare the endoparasite community of P. poliocephalus to nine native rail species. These hosts were chosen due to niche and phylogenetic similarities. Specimens were caught and euthanized from Water Conservation Areas 2 and 3 via a partnership with FWC and non-swamphen carcasses are received frozen from six wildlife rehabilitation centers across south Florida. Dissections targeting the gastrointestinal tract are performed after carcasses thaw for 24 hours. Parasite intensity, load, and species richness are recorded for each specimen. After dissection, parasites are stained in acetocarmine, mounted on slides, and identified to the lowest possible taxa. Thus far, native rails have an overall species richness of 19 and an infection prevalence of 74.7%. The only infections of P. poliocephalus in Florida have been by Hystrichis sp. (Nematoda: Dioctophymidae) at a rate of 12.5%. In their endemic range, there are records of echinostome (Digenea: Echinostomatidae) infections. With the combined instances of rapid population growth and lack of parasitic infections, the enemy release hypothesis is strongly evident in this system. Spillback, when native parasites infect nonnative hosts, is also occurring with the presence of the native generalist nematode, Hystrichis sp. Meanwhile spillover, when a nonnative host’s endemic range parasites infect native hosts, does not appear to be active.