A PRELIMINARY STUDY OF TICK POPULATIONS IN JACKASS PENGUIN NESTS ON MARCUS ISLAND, SOUTH AFRICA

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Abstract
Daturi, A. 1986. A preliminary study of tick populations in Jackass Penguin nests on Marcus Island, South Africa. Ostrich 57:95-100. During April to August 1984, 136 Jackass Penguin nests were sampled to determine the population levels of the argasid tick Ornithodoros capensis. Nests were classified according to seven variables: moisture of substratum and of nest material, volume of nest material, nest site, nest-entrance orientation, occupant status and coloniality. The classes within each variable were tested statistically to determine their influence on adult/nymphal and larval tick distributions. An increase in moisture of nest material had a significant adverse effect on tick numbers, while the other variables had little influence. Analysis of nest-entrance orientation indicated that penguins preferred nest sites with east-facing entrances. The results were compared with those from Peruvian islands.