2 research outputs found
A Screening for Virus Infections among Wild Eurasian Tundra Reindeer (Rangifer tarandus tarandus) in Iceland, 2017–2019
A winter population of around 4000–5000 wild Eurasian tundra reindeer (Rangifer t. tarandus) in the eastern part of Iceland represents descendants from 35 semi-domesticated reindeer imported to Iceland from Finnmark county, Norway, in 1787. While previous studies have indicated that they host fewer parasite species as compared to reindeer in Fennoscandia, little information exists on their exposure to reindeer viral pathogens. The aim of this study was to investigate blood from hunted reindeer for antibodies against alphaherpesvirus and gammaherpesviruses (malignant catarrhal fever viruses, MCFV), pestivirus, bluetongue virus, and Schmallenberg virus, and to investigate nasal and oral mucosal membrane swab samples for the presence of parapoxvirus-specific DNA. Blood samples collected during the hunting seasons in 2017 (n = 40), 2018 (n = 103), and 2019 (n = 138) were tested for viral antibodies using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Screening for parapoxvirus DNA was conducted on swab samples from 181 reindeer by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), targeting the B2L and GIF genes. Antibodies against pestivirus were detected in two animals from 2017, and antibodies against MCFV were detected in two reindeer from 2018. No antibodies were detected against the other viruses tested. Parapoxvirus-specific DNA was detected in nasal swab samples from two animals sampled in 2019. This study suggests that the investigated viral infections are either not present or present at a low prevalence only, probably not representing a major health threat to this reindeer population. The lack of exposure to alphaherpesvirus, an enzootic pathogen in most investigated Rangifer populations, was unexpected
Atferli ungahópa hjá nokkrum andartegundum
Gerð og atferli ungahópa hjá æðarfugli var skoðað í Eyjafirði 2002 og 2003. Hópar urðu flestir 141 seint í júní 2003 en 2002 urðu hópar flestir 9 dögum fyrr og þá ekki nema 83. Færri og minni hópar 2002 samhliða fáum stórum ungum, bentu til þess að dánartíðni hafi verið há . Flestir hópar fylgdu aðeins einni kollu (80-95%). Þetta var sérstaklega algengt 2003. Blikar voru í mörgum ungahópum í byrjun rannsóknartímabilsins (12.-15. júní) og var það einnig algengara 2003 (46% hópa voru í fylgd blika 12. júní 2003). Þetta gaf til kynna að kollur og blikar hafi verið í góðu líkamlegu ástandi. Ungar ráfuðu aldrei langt frá kollu. Einungis við fæðuöflun dreifðu þeir örlítið úr sér. Ungar voru örlítið meira dreifðir 2002 heldur en 2003 og ýtir það undir þá trú að fæða hafi verið óaðgengilegri það ár. Mestur tími unga fór í fæðunám (64%). Kollur eyddu minni tíma í át og meiri tíma í það að vera á varðbergi. Hegðun unga breyttist lítið milli ára en kollur eyddu meiri tíma í át og snyrtingu 2003 og minni tíma í hvíld og í það að vera á varðbergi. Þetta gefur til kynna að kollur bíði með fæðunám meðan þær eru á ungafæðusvæðum þegar fæða er af skornum skammti.
Athugun var gerð á atferli og gerð ungahópa hjá rauðhöfða Anas penelope, skúfönd Aythya fuligula og húsönd Bucephala islandica árin 2001-2003. Almennt voru hópar litlir (3-6 ungar) og fylgdu stökum kollum. Hjá skúfönd og húsönd var þó ekki óalgengt að sjá hópa með meira en 15 ungum. Munur á hópastærð var ekki afgerandi milli tegunda eða milli ára. Þar sem samruni hópa átti sér stað jafnhliða afföllum var erfitt að aðgreina þetta tvennt. Kollur voru oft einar með stóra hópa og því greinilegt að einhverjar kollur yfirgáfu unga sína áður en þeir náðu sjálfstæði. Hjá rauðhöfða og skúfönd var algengt að sjá kollulausa ungahópa og benti það til þess að kollur sem á annað borð yfirgáfu unga sína, biðu ekki með það þar til aðrar kollur yfirtóku unga þeirra. Húsönd aftur á móti, gaf unga sína sjaldan frá sér nema í hendur annarrar kollu. Ungahópar án kollu komu sjaldnar fyrir 2001 þegar fæða var aðgengilegust, samanborið við 2002 og 2003. Ungar eyddu meiri tíma í fæðuöflun og þá sérstaklega í áti af yfirborði 2001. Ungar dreifðu mest úr sér við fæðuöflun.Spatial structure and behaviour of eider broods were observed in Eyjafjörður, northern Iceland, during the summer of 2002 and 2003. The number of broods peaked with 141 broods in late June 2003 while in 2002 the peak was 9 days earlier and much lower (83 broods). This together with smaller broods and few large ducklings was an indicator of high duckling mortality in 2002. Broods were mostly tended by lone females (80-95%) especially in 2003, possibly a consequence of good conditioned females and low predation levels. Males were seen accompanying many broods in the beginning of the study period (12-15 June), especially in 2003 (as much as 46% on 12 June in 2003). This might imply that also males were in generally good condition and not hurrying to better feeding grounds prior to moulting. The eider ducklings never roamed far from the female. Only during feeding the ducklings were a little more dispersed. The greater spread of ducklings in 2002 suggests scarcity of food supply as compared to 2003. Ducklings spent most of their time feeding (65%). Females spent less time feeding and more time in vigilance. Duckling behaviour changed little between years but females spent more time feeding and preening in 2003 and less time resting or in vigilance. This indicates that females wait with foraging while on duckling feeding grounds, when food supply is scarce.
A study was conducted in 2001–2003 on the spatial structure and behaviour of duckling broods among the Eurasian wigeon Anas penelope, tufted duck Aythya fuligula and Barrow’s goldeneye Bucephala islandica. In general, broods were small (3–6 young) and followed a single female. However, large broods with 15 young or more were not uncommon among tufted ducks and Barrow’s goldeneye. Differences in brood sizes were not prominent between species or between years. Enlargement of broods, due to brood fusion, and reduction of broods, due to duckling loss, occurred simultaneously, so distinguishing between the two was not attempted. Females were often alone with amalgamated broods, indicating that it was not uncommon for females to leave their young. Broods without females were common among Eurasian wigeons and tufted ducks; apparently, some females did not wait with leaving until their young were adopted. Barrow’s goldeneyes rarely left their young unattended, but often had to surrender them to other females. Broods with no attending females were less common in 2001, when food was relatively abundant, than in 2002 or 2003. In 2001, ducklings spent more time feeding and picking food objects from the surface rather than diving, as compared to the two other years. The young ranged further away from the female while feeding than when engaged in other activities