Leucocytozoon bonasae in Ruffed Grouse; Its Possible Relationship to Fluctuations in Numbers of Grouse

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Abstract
231 ruffed grouse (Bonasa umbellus) were collected in n. Minnesota from 1941 to 1947, a period of peak populations declining to a low point. Blood slides from 163 of the birds were available for examination for the protozoan, Leucocytozoon bonasae. Infections of the parasite varied from 59.4 to 100% during the various yrs. For the period as a whole the percentage of infection was 70.5. If L. bonasae infections were a factor depressing grouse populations would the percentage of infection decline as grouse populations began to increase again? To gather information on this point, 153 grouse were collected from an expanding population between 1948 and 1952. The infection varied from 50 to 90.5% during the various yrs. For the entire period the percentage of infection was 70.6, almost identical with the 1941-1947 "period" percentage. The percentage of infection for young birds of the yr. and adults during the 2 periods showed the same trend[long dash]a somewhat greater tendency for young birds to be infected. With data on Leucocytozoon infections available for an 11-yr. period covering one whole cycle of ruffed grouse numbers, it is concluded that L. bonasae is a widespread but probably a relatively harmless parasite of ruffed grouse and probably has no influence on the grouse cycle.

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