PERSISTENCE AND STABILITY OF THE COMPONENT HELMINTH COMMUNITY OF THE SAGEBRUSH LIZARD, SCELOPORUS-GRACIOSUS (PHRYNOSOMATIDAE) FROM LOS-ANGELES-COUNTY, CALIFORNIA, 1972-1973, 1986-1996

One thousand three hundred eighty-eight adult Sceloporus graciosus col lected 1972-1973, 1986-1996 from the San Gabriel Mountains, Los Angele s County, California were examined for helminths. The component helmin th community consisted of one species of cestode, Oochoristica scelopo ri and three species of nematodes, Atractis penneri, Physaloptera retu sa and Spauligodon giganticus. No significant differences by year were found for mean infrapopulations of Oochoristica scelopori, Physalopte ra retusa and Spauligodon giganticus (Kruskal-Wallis statistic = 3.9, 8 df; 17.8, 10 df; 7.0, 10 df, respectively, P > 0.05). Mean infrapopu lations of Atractis penneri by year were significantly different (Krus kal-Wallis statistic = 24.5, 8 df, P < 0.05). The component helminth c ommunity of Sceloporus graciosus was persistent and, with the exceptio n of A. penneri, stable.