Helminth communities in Audouin's gulls, Larus audouinii from Chafarinas Islands (western Mediterranean)

A survey of intestinal helminth communities of Audouin's gulls Larus audoui nii, from their breeding colonies in Chafarinas Islands, western Mediterran ean, Spain was conducted to determine the abundance and species diversity o f intestinal parasites of these birds. The sample of 58 gulls harbored inte stinal helminth infracommunities composed of species that are gull generali sts. including the digeneans Cardiocephalus longicollis, Knipowitschiatrema nicolai, Condylocotyla pilodora, and Aporchis massiliensis, and the cestod e;Tetrabothrius cylindraceus. Two nematodes me waterfowl generalists (Cosmo cephalus obvelatus and Paracuaria adunca), whereas the digenean Acanthotrem a armata is an Audouin's gull specialist. The relative high values of speci es richness and diversity of the helminth infracommunities are comparable t o those of other gulls (Larus philadelphia, Larus canus), probably reflecti ng the specialized, nonselective fish diet of L audouinii.