Bucephala Islandica Research Articles

Recent Observations in the Wrangell Mountains, Alaska

Little has been published on the avifauna of the Wrangell Mountains in southern Alaska. Therefore I wish to record some of my observations there during late June and July 1973. Of 56 species recorded in the study area, details are given below for 22 species which are of interest. In view of their known distribution in Canada, most of these species might be expected to occur in the Wrangell Mountains but have not previously been recorded there. The area studied was the immediate vicinity of Rock and Ptarmigan lakes in the eastern Wrangell Mountains, some 140 miles ESE of Glennallen on the Richardson Highway, and close to the Canadian border at 61o48' N 141015' W. The terrain was comprised of the two lakes and their connecting river valley, in which was a small unnamed lake, surrounding muskeg and spruce forest, and the adjacent mountains up to elevations a little in excess of 5000 ft above sea level. Willow and birch scrub extended from the lakes up the mountain slopes almost to the highest elevations, and above the spruce forest a belt of Populus balsamifera was usually present at 3900-4100 ft. Aythya marila. Greater Scaup. A pair on Rock Lake on 30 June, three pairs in the valley east of this lake on 4 July, and three females on Rock Lake on 15 July. No evidence of breeding was found. Bucephala islandica. Barrow's Goldeneye. There were more than six females on the unnamed lake on 1 July. On 3 July a female with six young was located on a pool on the south side of Rock Lake, and on the same date four females were seen on the river. Bucephala albeola. Bufflehead. A female appeared on Rock Lake on 16-17 July but was not seen again. Melanitta perspicillata. Surf Scoter. There were two pairs on Rock Lake on 3 July. Oxyura jamaicensis. Ruddy Duck. A female was present on the unnamed lake on 9 July. This duck has been recorded closest to the Wrangell Mountains in the Tetlin Lake area, about 100 miles to the north (Hansen, Condor 62:137, 1960). Aquila chrysaetos. Golden Eagle. Two adults, a subadult, and a juvenile were seen on various dates over the mountains immediately north of Rock Lake. A recently occupied aerie was located at about 5000 ft.

Two new species of Maritrema (Trematoda: Microphallidae) from the Pacific Coast of North America.

Maritrema pacifica n. sp. has an incomplete posterior ring of vitellaria, a spiny cirrus, a trilobed ovary, and a well-differentiated metraterm. It differs from M. patulus Coil, 1955 in the larger body, longer esophagus, round rather than slit-like genital pore, and larger eggs. It differs from M. interrupta Oshmarin, 1970, M. eroliae Yamaguti, 1939, and M. kitanensis Shibue, 1953 in the smaller cirrus sac containing sparse prostate cells. M. pacifica has the following definitive hosts: Larus californicus Lawrence, L. occidentalis Audubon, Turdus migratorius L. from Oregon, and Crocethia alba (Pallas) from British Columbia. The metacercariae, from Orchestoidea corniculata from California, became ovigerous in Locke's solution at 39 °C.Maritrema paracadiae n. sp. (synonym M. acadiae of Deblock and Rausch (1972)) differed from the type specimens of M. acadiae (Swales, 1933) in the proportionately larger oral and ventral suckers; the larger, inverted J-shaped cirrus sac containing prominent prostate cells; and the distribution of the uterus within, instead of overlapping, the posterior vitellarian ring. M. paracadiae was found in the intestine of Bucephala islandica (Gmelin) from Washington.

Eucotyle castanea n.sp. and other trematodes of the family Eucotylidae from birds in British Columbia

Four species of trematodes of the family Eucotylidae were collected from birds in British Columbia. Eucotyle castanea n.sp. from Melanitta deglandi (Bonaparte) differs from other members of the genus mainly by the presence, throughout its parenchyma, of a reddish-brown pigment. E. cohni Skrjabin, 1924 was recovered from Podiceps grisegena holböllii Reinhardt, Clangula hyemalis (Linnaeus), Bucephala clanguia (Linneaus), and Padiceps aurittis (Linnaeus). E. warreni Schell, 1967 was collected from Bucephala islandica (Gmelin) and Tanaisia fedtschenkoi Skrjabin, 1924 from Charadrius vociferus Linnaeus. This is the first record of the occurrence of these parasite species in Canada.The structure of the cirrus sac in E. castanea and E. cohni and the excretory system of the latter species are described. The relationship between Eucotyle and Tanaisia is discussed and a key to the species of Eucotyle is included.

Barrow's Goldeneye in Manitoba

Barrow's Goldeneye in Manitoba

TAXONOMIC AND BIOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS ON STREPTOCARA CALIFORNICA (GEDOELST, 1919) GEDOELST AND LIÉGEOIS, 1922 AND THE GENUS STREPTOCARA (NEMATODA: ACUARIIDAE)

A detailed redescription is presented for adults of Streptocara californica (Gedoelst, 1919) Gedoelst and Liégeois, 1922 based on specimens from under the gizzard lining of a common scoter, Oidemia nigra (L.), from Vancouver, Canada. Adult S. californica are here reported from the type host, Melanitta deglandi (Bonap.), and from the following new hosts near Vancouver: Anas platyrhynchos L., Aythya valisineria (Wilson), Bucephala islandica (Gmelin), Clangula hyemalis (L.), Melanitta perspicillata (L.), and Mergus serrator L. A description of the fourth-stage larvae is presented, based on specimens from Aythya marila (L.), Melanitta perspicillata (L.), and Mergus merganser L. from the same region. Yseria californica Gedoelst, 1919; Korjakinema gusi Oschmarin, 1950; Streptocara dogieli Belopolskaya, 1952; and Skrjabinobronema californicum (Gedoelst, 1919) Yamaguti, 1961 are considered synonyms of Streptocara californica. A comparison of the prevalence of S. californica with that of S. crassicauda charadrii Skrjabin, 1916 seems to indicate rather different life cycles for the two species. It is suggested that the genus Streptocara may be more highly evolved than the other genera of the Seuratiinae.

Some Problems of Wild Life Conservation in Iceland

It would appear that the natural hazards present in Iceland have little or no lasting effects on the fauna. Far more important are the threats introduced by man and his domestic stocks, though even here the effect has more significance in relation to the flora, rather than the fauna. Direct predation does occur, and forms part of the economy, but one must presume that the present-day protection laws and conservation in Iceland seem to be adequate for most of the fauna and flora, the exceptions being the Harlequin and Barrow's Goldeneye at Myvatn. The difficulty seems to be not in giving legal protection by law, but in enforcing it.The cropping of marine mammals does not seem to have had any great effect on their numbers and one must assume that provided cropping does not increase, conservation measures must be adequate. It must be emphasized, however, that this is only a survey of the conditions existing to-day and a great deal of work must be done on the population dynamics, and a closer study of the effects of the particular physical forces mentioned must be made. It is hoped that through the auspices of the Anglo- Icelandic Field Research Group, and with the help of our colleagues in Iceland, there will be many facilities for future workers.

An Observation of Interspecific Strife Between Barrow's Goldeneye and Lesser Scaup

An Observation of Interspecific Strife Between Barrow's Goldeneye and Lesser Scaup

A Joint Clutch of Barrow's Goldeneye and Bufflehead Eggs

A Joint Clutch of Barrow's Goldeneye and Bufflehead Eggs

A Hybrid between Barrow's and Common Goldeneyes

A Hybrid between Barrow's and Common Goldeneyes

Notes on Oregon Nesting of American Merganser and Barrow's Golden-Eye

Notes on Oregon Nesting of American Merganser and Barrow's Golden-Eye

The Status of Barrow's Golden-Eye in Eastern Washington

The Status of Barrow's Golden-Eye in Eastern Washington

Barrow's golden-eye at Huntsville, Ontario

Barrow's golden-eye at Huntsville, Ontario

Barrow's Golden-Eye near Waddington, New York

Barrow's Golden-Eye near Waddington, New York

Barrow's Golden-Eye in Massachusetts

Barrow's Golden-Eye in Massachusetts

The Status of Barrow's Golden-Eye in the Eastern United States

The Status of Barrow's Golden-Eye in the Eastern United States

Barrow's Golden-Eye in Connecticut

Barrow's Golden-Eye in Connecticut

Barrow's Golden-eye in New Jersey

Barrow's Golden-eye in New Jersey

Occurrence of the Barrow's Golden-Eye and (Greater?) Snow Geese in Berkshire County, Massachusetts

Occurrence of the Barrow's Golden-Eye and (Greater?) Snow Geese in Berkshire County, Massachusetts

The Barrow Golden-Eye in the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

The Barrow Golden-Eye in the Okanagan Valley, British Columbia

Barrow's Golden-Eye at Wareham, Mass

Barrow's Golden-Eye at Wareham, Mass