Persistence and stability of the component helminth community of Rana boylii from Humboldt County, California was evaluated using two collections made 40 y apart (1964–1965 and 2004–2007). The component helminth community consisted of 13 species: one species of Cestoda (Distoichometra bufonis), six species of Digenea (Deropegus aspina, Glypthelmins quieta, Gorgoderina multilobata, Haematoloecus kernensis, Megalodiscus microphagus, echinostome metacercariae) four species of Nematoda, (Cosmocercoides variabilis, Hedruris sp., Rhabdias ranae, third stage Physalopterids) and two species of Acanthocephala (represented by centrorhynchid cystacanths and oligacanthorhynchid cystacanths). Twelve (92%) of the 13 species occurred in the 1964–1965 sample; nine (69%) of the 13 species were found in the 2004–2007 sample; eight (62%) of the 13 species occurred in both samples. Rana boylii is parasitized by generalist helminths that co-occur in other hosts. The aggregate of host species may be more important to parasite community stability than any single host species.
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The American Midland Naturalist
Vol. 163 • No. 2
April 2010
Vol. 163 • No. 2
April 2010