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Gapeworm (Syngamus spp.) prevalence in Wisconsin greater prairie chickens (Tympanuchus cupido pinnatus)

Jacob A Shurba·Rebecca A. Cole·Matthew Broadway·Constance Roderick·Jason D. Riddle·Shelli A. Dubay·Scott D. Hull
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Abstract

Under Wisconsin state law, the greater prairie chicken (GRPC; Tympanuchus cupido pinnatus ) has been listed as a threatened species since 1976. In 2014–15, we conducted a pilot study to determine the prevalence and intensity of gapeworms ( Syngamus spp.) in female Wisconsin GRPCs collected from 2 monitored populations. We captured 62 female GRPCs using walk-in-style traps for females and night lighting for juveniles ≥45 days of age. From these individuals, we collected 15 carcasses of radio-marked birds, most of whom died due to predation events. Through dissection, we identified gapeworm in 20% of examined carcasses and report an intensity ranging between 4 and 74 worms.

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90° N90° S · 180° W ← longitude → 180° E
Source-reported bounding extent: 44.26192075025349° to 44.552558125017725° latitude; -89.91296768188477° to -89.51934814453125° longitude. This indicates report coverage, not an exact sampling location. View area on OpenStreetMap.

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Jacob A Shurba, Rebecca A. Cole, Matthew Broadway, Constance Roderick, Jason D. Riddle, Shelli A. Dubay, Scott D. Hull. 2021. Gapeworm (Syngamus spp.) prevalence in Wisconsin greater prairie chickens (Tympanuchus cupido pinnatus). https://doi.org/10.1645/19-138

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