Blood parasites of prairie anatids and their implication in waterfowl management in Alberta and Saskatchewan.

Information on the blood parasites occurring in 3,866 anatids of 14 species collected from five locations in Alberta and Saskatchewan during 1976-80 is summarized. An overall prevalence of 26% with avian hematozoa was recorded. Leucocytozoon simondi was the most frequently encountered parasite, occurring in 17% of the ducks; Haemoproteus nettionis was observed in 11% of the birds while Plasmodium circumflexum and microfilariae (probably of Splendidofilaria fallisensis) occurred in only 2% and less than 1% of the sample respectively.

Genome of the whooping crane.

The genome of an endangered avian species, the whooping crane (Grus americana) has been examined using the methods of karyotype analysis, cytofluorometry, and analytical ultracentrifugation. This species has a karyotype (2n = 82) common to the other crane species previously examined with five autosomal pairs and one sex chromosome pair as the macrochromosomes, and a large number of microchromosomes. Sex chromosomes are heteromorphic in females permitting sexing by means of chromosome analysis.