The helminth community of the common shrew in a post-fire regenerated Mediterranean ecosystem

As part of a multidisciplinary project concerning the dynamics of post-fire recolonization by small mammals and the study of their helminth parasites as biological tags in the process of post-fire regeneration in Mediterranean ecosystems, the helminth community of the common shrew in the Spanish Natural Park of the Serra Calderona has been analysed. The results show a helminth community consisting of 15 helminth species. characterised by moderate diversity, with a predominance of indirect biological cycle helminth species. The helminth infracommunity determined by its origin of capture, burned or non-burned (control) areas, shows only insignificant differences. It is suggested that the common shrew helminth community may not be an adequate biological tag of the post-fire regeneration in Mediterranean ecosystems.