The helminth parasites of three species of gulls in Newfoundland

Abstract

Thirty-two great black-backed gulls (Larus marinus), 72 kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla), and 1 glaucous gull (Larus hyperboreus) were examined for their helminth parasite burden during 1966 and 1967, in Newfoundland, Canada. A total of 16 species of helminths were recovered (four species of trematodes, nine of cestodes, and three of nematodes). The great black-backed gull was found to be infected with 14 species of helminth, the kittiwake with five, and the glaucous gull with four. The records in this paper are new for Canada, and two are new North American records. No annual or seasonal differences were noted in the parasite burden, nor was there any significant difference between the burden of chicks and adults, or males or females.