Abundance and stability are species traits for four chewing lice (Phthiraptera: Menoponidae, Philopteridae) on feral pigeons,Columba livia(Aves: Columbiformes: Columbidae)

Abstract

AbstractPopulation parameters of ectoparasites on feral pigeons,Columba liviaGmelin (Aves: Columbiformes: Columbidae), were estimated from 1995–2012 in southern Manitoba, Canada. The ectoparasites are chewing lice (Phthiraptera): Philopteridae –Campanulotes compar(Burmeister),Columbicola columbae(Linnaeus), andColoceras tovornikaeTendeiro; Menoponidae –Hohorstiella lata(Piaget). We tested the hypotheses that both abundance and population stability are species-specific traits. Over 10 years, the four species of lice had distinct population dynamics.Campanulotes comparandC. columbaewere more abundant thanC. tovornikaeandH. lata, had higher male to female sex ratios and higher ratios of nymphs to females, different levels of aggregation, and more stable populations.Campanulotes comparwas more prevalent thanC. columbaeand its prevalence was more stable, and the two species also showed differences in the levels and stabilities of male and nymph to female ratios.Coloceras tovornikaehad a higher prevalence and male to female sex ratio thanH. lata, but the two species showed similar levels of stability for these parameters. The level of stability of these populations was relatively high compared with many other organisms, and in particular higher than for plant ectoparasites (Hemiptera: Aphididae). Although the four species occupy similar habitats, often on the same bird, and three of the four feed in a similar way, the population biology of each species is distinct. The life history traits that lead to these differences have yet to be determined.