Comparative Ectoparasite Loads of Five Seabird Species in the Galapagos Islands

A comparative analysis of ectoparasitic lice infesting five seabird species in the Galápagos Islands revealed that inter-island differences were the primary predictors of parasite prevalence and infestation intensity. The study identified nine species of lice, including shared and host-specific varieties across magnificent frigatebirds, great frigatebirds, Nazca boobies, blue-footed boobies, and red-footed boobies. While factors such as host sex, body size, breeding status, and family were examined, island-specific variations emerged as the dominant influence on parasite loads. These findings suggest potential links to host density or environmental conditions, though further research is needed to clarify these relationships.

Rivera-Parra, J. L., Levin, I. I., & Parker, P. G. (2014). Comparative Ectoparasite Loads of Five Seabird Species in the Galapagos Islands. Journal of Parasitology, 100(5), 569–577. https://doi.org/10.1645/12-141.1