Estimations of species richness in the complex communities of nematode parasites found in the stomachs of kangaroos and wallabies (family macropodidae)

Abstract

Kangaroos and wallabies harbour a diverse array of strongyloid nematodes in their sacculated forestomachs. Determining the number of nematode species present in complex communities such as these can be technically difficult due to the large size of the host organ, the large numbers of nematodes and the large number of closely related nematode species. This problem was investigated using species accumulation methods in 16 eastern grey kangaroos (Macropus giganteus), 15 red-necked wallabies (Macropus nifogriseus) and 6 swamp wallabies (Wallabia bicolor). Nematodes from a subsample of known size were identified individually to species and the number of nematodes which needed to be examined befo..