Regurgitation of the koilin layer in chinstrap penguins (Pygoscelis antarcticus) and its association with gastric parasites
The koilin membrane, formed by the secretions of the ventricular and pyloric glands, functions as a protective layer in the gizzards of most bird species. However, the ecological functions of koilin have never been studied in free-ranging penguins. During the two austral summers from 2012 to 2014, w...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Norwegian Polar Institute
2016-06-01
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| Series: | Polar Research |
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| Online Access: | http://www.polarresearch.net/index.php/polar/article/view/25966/47261 |
| _version_ | 1818390507086151680 |
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| author | Han-Kyu Kim Chang-Yong Choi Min-Su Jeong Hwa-Yeon Kang Woo-Shin Lee |
| author_facet | Han-Kyu Kim Chang-Yong Choi Min-Su Jeong Hwa-Yeon Kang Woo-Shin Lee |
| author_sort | Han-Kyu Kim |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The koilin membrane, formed by the secretions of the ventricular and pyloric glands, functions as a protective layer in the gizzards of most bird species. However, the ecological functions of koilin have never been studied in free-ranging penguins. During the two austral summers from 2012 to 2014, we observed the regurgitated koilins of chinstrap penguins (Pygoscelis antarcticus) at Narębski Point on King George Island, South Shetland Islands, and we detected a significant difference in the daily accumulation of regurgitated koilins between the pre-hatching and post-hatching periods in the rookery. We also found 233 gastrointestinal parasites, all Stegophorus macronectes (Nematoda, Acuariidae), from 26 out of 45 koilins freshly regurgitated by chinstrap penguins. We suggest that the regurgitation of koilins may benefit adult chinstrap penguins in the wild by reducing parasitic loads when they fast during incubation; it may also help decrease the risk of parasite transmission to chicks. Our results present the first observations of regurgitated koilins among breeding chinstrap penguins. How koilin regurgitation functions in penguins requires further study. Among the gentoo penguins (P. papua) co-occurring at the study site, we observed no regurgitated koilin layers. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T04:58:43Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-612ffb0229f24f0b9038d24a159ec506 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1751-8369 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T04:58:43Z |
| publishDate | 2016-06-01 |
| publisher | Norwegian Polar Institute |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Polar Research |
| spelling | doaj.art-612ffb0229f24f0b9038d24a159ec5062022-12-21T23:16:16ZengNorwegian Polar InstitutePolar Research1751-83692016-06-013501510.3402/polar.v35.2596625966Regurgitation of the koilin layer in chinstrap penguins (Pygoscelis antarcticus) and its association with gastric parasitesHan-Kyu Kim0Chang-Yong Choi1Min-Su Jeong2Hwa-Yeon Kang3Woo-Shin Lee4Department of Forest Sciences, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 151-921, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Forest Sciences, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 151-921, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Forest Sciences, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 151-921, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Forest Sciences, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 151-921, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Forest Sciences, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 151-921, Republic of KoreaThe koilin membrane, formed by the secretions of the ventricular and pyloric glands, functions as a protective layer in the gizzards of most bird species. However, the ecological functions of koilin have never been studied in free-ranging penguins. During the two austral summers from 2012 to 2014, we observed the regurgitated koilins of chinstrap penguins (Pygoscelis antarcticus) at Narębski Point on King George Island, South Shetland Islands, and we detected a significant difference in the daily accumulation of regurgitated koilins between the pre-hatching and post-hatching periods in the rookery. We also found 233 gastrointestinal parasites, all Stegophorus macronectes (Nematoda, Acuariidae), from 26 out of 45 koilins freshly regurgitated by chinstrap penguins. We suggest that the regurgitation of koilins may benefit adult chinstrap penguins in the wild by reducing parasitic loads when they fast during incubation; it may also help decrease the risk of parasite transmission to chicks. Our results present the first observations of regurgitated koilins among breeding chinstrap penguins. How koilin regurgitation functions in penguins requires further study. Among the gentoo penguins (P. papua) co-occurring at the study site, we observed no regurgitated koilin layers.http://www.polarresearch.net/index.php/polar/article/view/25966/47261Cuticula gastrishost-parasite interactionnematodesparasitic loadregurgitationStegophorus macronectes. |
| spellingShingle | Han-Kyu Kim Chang-Yong Choi Min-Su Jeong Hwa-Yeon Kang Woo-Shin Lee Regurgitation of the koilin layer in chinstrap penguins (Pygoscelis antarcticus) and its association with gastric parasites Polar Research Cuticula gastris host-parasite interaction nematodes parasitic load regurgitation Stegophorus macronectes. |
| title | Regurgitation of the koilin layer in chinstrap penguins (Pygoscelis antarcticus) and its association with gastric parasites |
| title_full | Regurgitation of the koilin layer in chinstrap penguins (Pygoscelis antarcticus) and its association with gastric parasites |
| title_fullStr | Regurgitation of the koilin layer in chinstrap penguins (Pygoscelis antarcticus) and its association with gastric parasites |
| title_full_unstemmed | Regurgitation of the koilin layer in chinstrap penguins (Pygoscelis antarcticus) and its association with gastric parasites |
| title_short | Regurgitation of the koilin layer in chinstrap penguins (Pygoscelis antarcticus) and its association with gastric parasites |
| title_sort | regurgitation of the koilin layer in chinstrap penguins pygoscelis antarcticus and its association with gastric parasites |
| topic | Cuticula gastris host-parasite interaction nematodes parasitic load regurgitation Stegophorus macronectes. |
| url | http://www.polarresearch.net/index.php/polar/article/view/25966/47261 |
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