The ecology of blood parasites in blue grouse from Vancouver Island, British Columbia

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Abstract
The blood parasites in blue grouse (Dendragapus obscurus (Say, 1823)) from Vancouver Island, British Columbia were studied during the summers of 1972 through 1975. Data from 1707 birds of three age-classes indicated that infections of Leucocytozoon bonasae occurred more often (79%) than Trypanosoma avium (54%), Haemoproteus mansoni (42%), or microfilariae (37%). Concurrent associations of these taxa were more common (77%) than single species infections. Frequencies of multiple species infections did not fit expected probabilities, indicating that multiple associations are not derived independently.Young grouse acquire L. bonasae and H. mansoni by middle to late June, 2–3 weeks after hatching. Infections of T. avium and microfilariae appeared 4 and 5–9 weeks after hatch, respectively. Leucocytozoon and Haemoproteus had two transmission periods which varied seasonally among years, but which had similar within-year patterns. Simulium aureum was incriminated as a vector of L. bonasae, but attempts at experimental transmission were not made. The utilization of common species of vectors by several taxa of parasites is postulated. Competitive exclusion does not appear to exist for this species assemblage.