DOCSLIB.ORG

The Effects of Urbanization on Tick Parasitism Rates in Birds of Southeastern Virginia

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Effects of Urbanization on Tick Parasitism Rates in Birds of Southeastern Virginia Old Dominion University ODU Digital Commons Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations Biological Sciences Fall 2015 The Effects of Urbanization on Tick Parasitism Rates in Birds of Southeastern Virginia Erin Leigh Heller Old Dominion University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/biology_etds Part of the Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons, and the Ornithology Commons Recommended Citation Heller, Erin L.. "The Effects of Urbanization on Tick Parasitism Rates in Birds of Southeastern Virginia" (2015). Master of Science (MS), Thesis, Biological Sciences, Old Dominion University, DOI: 10.25777/2fjy- n823 https://digitalcommons.odu.edu/biology_etds/6 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Biological Sciences at ODU Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Biological Sciences Theses & Dissertations by an authorized administrator of ODU Digital Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. THE EFFECTS OF URBANIZATION ON TICK PARASITISM RATES IN BIRDS OF SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA by Erin L. Heller B.S. May 2011, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University A Thesis Submitted to the Faculty of Old Dominion University in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE BIOLOGY OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY December 2015 Approved By: ______________________________________ Dr. Eric L. Walters (Director) ______________________________________ Dr. Holly D. Gaff (Member) ______________________________________ Dr. R. Jory Brinkerhoff (Member) ABSTRACT THE EFFECTS OF URBANIZATION ON TICK PARASITISM RATES IN BIRDS OF SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA Erin L. Heller Old Dominion University, 2015 Director: Dr. Eric L. Walters The coastal region of southeastern Virginia is one of the largest urban areas along one of North America’s migratory flyways. Because hundreds of avian species use this flyway, understanding factors affecting birds and their health is of paramount concern. Within this region, 14 species of ticks have been documented, all of which may serve as vectors of mammal (including human) pathogens. By sampling birds at sites of varying levels of urbanization within the coastal southeastern urban matrix, I studied the relationship between ticks and their avian hosts, and how this relationship varies seasonally. Mistnets were set-up at five permanent sites and six ad-hoc sites between August 2012 and August 2014 to sample ticks from both migratory and resident birds. During this time, 1886 birds were sampled, and 943 ticks were collected from avian hosts. These ticks were later identified to species in order to determine species-specific avian hosts. Field sites were ranked qualitatively and then quantitatively using national land cover data and ArcGIS in order to determine how urban each site was relative to others; the proportion of birds with ticks was greater at less urbanized (more rural) sites. Percent impervious surface and season played an important role in predicting tick parasitism rates, as did bird life history traits, such as foraging and nesting behavior. The most common life stage and tick species collected from birds were larval rabbit ticks (Haemaphysalis leporispalustris), followed by larval bird ticks (Ixodes brunneus). This study demonstrates how levels of urbanization can influence tick parasitism rates on birds and increases knowledge of the corresponding relationship between urbanization and disease prevalence, which ultimately could affect human health risks. Copyright 2015 by Erin L. Heller. All rights reserved. iv My thesis is dedicated to my grandmother, Margaret “Grams” Kaiser. She instilled in me my love for nature and more specifically my fascination with birds. Her wonder for the world around her and her compassion for its creatures are traits that I will carry with me for the rest of my life. v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to extend my gratitude and appreciation to my advisor, Dr. Eric L. Walters, for encouraging me to pursue my interests in avian ecology and for working with me to learn about the world of tick biology. Learning to band birds with the utmost care for their health and safety is a skill I will take with me throughout my life, both in academia and out, and I am very thankful for everything he has taught me during the past three years. I also would like to express my sincere appreciation for his thorough efforts in the editing and revision processes of my thesis. Additional thanks are extended to my committee members, Dr. Holly D. Gaff and Dr. R. Jory Brinkerhoff, for all of their time and advice. Dr. Gaff has spent countless hours in the field with me and in the lab looking at ticks under microscopes. Without her assistance, I surely would not be where I am today, and Dr. Brinkerhoff has provided his expertise in bird-tick interactions. I would like to thank Weyanoke Wildlife Sanctuary, Paradise Creek Nature Park, Hoffler Creek Wildlife Preserve, The Nature Conservancy, and the Virginia Zoo for allowing me to conduct research on their properties. In particular Randi Strutton, Helen Kuhns, Joe Rieger, David Koubsky, Mike Shoen, Linda Cameron, and Roger Sweeney were all instrumental in providing me access to various sites. I also thank Dr. Hynes and Dr. Gauthier and all of the graduate students and field assistants in the Walters lab, the Gaff lab, and the Hynes lab who helped make this project possible, specifically Natasha Hagemeyer, Lindsey Bidder, Robyn Nadolny, Pam Kelman, Chelsea Wright, Dorothy Paine, Alexis White, Annie Sabo, Ally Lahey, Amy vi Johnson, Tyler Chavers, Noel Brightwell, Jessica Vincent, Paul Dawson, Jessica Asfari, Cathy Roberts, David Swisher, Michael Bailey, Sean Millman, Terisha Dunn, Tomeka Bandy, Elena Flicken, Maggie McDonald, Michael Goddard, Adrienne Ashby, and any others I may be missing. More specifically, Natasha trained me to mistnet and band birds safely; Lindsey was invaluable in assisting me with my GIS work; Robyn spent many early mornings with me fighting off mosquitoes and horse flies while waiting for birds to fly into the nets; Chelsea ran all of the PCR analyses; and everyone else assisted with field work or data entry. Daniel Vanselow and Benjamin Augustine assisted me in an R crash-course and were immensely helpful. Additional thanks are extended to George McLeod for assisting me further with GIS work. Old Dominion University's Research for Undergraduates in Math and Sciences program (RUMS) provided undergraduate assistance throughout my field work as well. Mike Aherron from the Department of Forestry, David Cutherell from ODU, Sarah Sumoski from Paradise Creek Nature Park, and The Virginia Aquatic Resources Trust Fund through The Nature Conservancy and Barney Environmental provided me with invaluable information on the vegetation at various sites. Finally, a huge thanks goes to the agencies that helped fund my study, including: Old Dominion University, the Virginia Academy of Science, the Virginia Society of Ornithology, and ODU’s Alumni Association. I would like to thank my father, mother, and brother who all have been incredibly supportive of my endeavors in graduate school. They have provided me with unconditional love and patience throughout my graduate school adventure and helped keep me sane when the going got tough. A huge thanks goes to Olivia Soska. vii Her support and unwavering desire to assist me in any way possible are unmatched and greatly appreciated. Additional thanks are extended to the wonderful friends I have made in Norfolk, especially my graduate student family at ODU, and to all of my friends from all other walks of life. viii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF TABLES ...........................................................................................................................xi LIST OF FIGURES .........................................................................................................................xiii Chapter I. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................1 TICK LIFE HISTORY ......................................................................................................2 LIFE FEEDING HABITS ................................................................................................5 TICK-BORNE DISEASES...............................................................................................7 TICKS AND URBANIZATION ......................................................................................9 TICK-BIRD INTERACTIONS .......................................................................................11 STUDY GOALS .................................................................................................................12 II. THE EFFECT OF URBANIZATION ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TICKS AND THEIR AVIAN HOSTS .......................................................................................................13 INTRODUCTION .............................................................................................................13 URBANIZATION AND WILDLIFE ...............................................................14 URBANIZATION AND ECTOPARASITES .................................................16 HYPOTHESES ....................................................................................................17 METHODS .........................................................................................................................18
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Annotated List of the Hard Ticks (Acari: Ixodida: Ixodidae) of New Jersey
    applyparastyle "fig//caption/p[1]" parastyle "FigCapt" applyparastyle "fig" parastyle "Figure" Journal of Medical Entomology, 2019, 1–10 doi: 10.1093/jme/tjz010 Review Review Downloaded from https://academic.oup.com/jme/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/jme/tjz010/5310395 by Rutgers University Libraries user on 09 February 2019 Annotated List of the Hard Ticks (Acari: Ixodida: Ixodidae) of New Jersey James L. Occi,1,4 Andrea M. Egizi,1,2 Richard G. Robbins,3 and Dina M. Fonseca1 1Center for Vector Biology, Department of Entomology, Rutgers University, 180 Jones Ave, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8536, 2Tick- borne Diseases Laboratory, Monmouth County Mosquito Control Division, 1901 Wayside Road, Tinton Falls, NJ 07724, 3 Walter Reed Biosystematics Unit, Department of Entomology, Smithsonian Institution, MSC, MRC 534, 4210 Silver Hill Road, Suitland, MD 20746-2863 and 4Corresponding author, e-mail: [email protected] Subject Editor: Rebecca Eisen Received 1 November 2018; Editorial decision 8 January 2019 Abstract Standardized tick surveillance requires an understanding of which species may be present. After a thorough review of the scientific literature, as well as government documents, and careful evaluation of existing accessioned tick collections (vouchers) in museums and other repositories, we have determined that the verifiable hard tick fauna of New Jersey (NJ) currently comprises 11 species. Nine are indigenous to North America and two are invasive, including the recently identified Asian longhorned tick,Haemaphysalis longicornis (Neumann, 1901). For each of the 11 species, we summarize NJ collection details and review their known public health and veterinary importance and available information on seasonality. Separately considered are seven additional species that may be present in the state or become established in the future but whose presence is not currently confirmed with NJ vouchers.
    [Show full text]
  • Pathogenic Landscape of Transboundary Zoonotic Diseases in the Mexico–US Border Along the Rio Grande
    University of Texas Rio Grande Valley ScholarWorks @ UTRGV Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations College of Sciences 11-17-2014 Pathogenic landscape of transboundary zoonotic diseases in the Mexico–US border along the Rio Grande Maria Dolores Esteve-Gassent Adalberto A. Pérez de León Dora Romero-Salas Teresa Patricia Feria-Arroyo The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Ramiro Patino The University of Texas Rio Grande Valley See next page for additional authors Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/bio_fac Part of the Animal Sciences Commons, and the Biology Commons Recommended Citation Esteve-Gassent, Maria Dolores, Adalberto A. Pérez de León, Dora Romero-Salas, Teresa P. Feria-Arroyo, Ramiro Patino, Ivan Castro-Arellano, Guadalupe Gordillo-Pérez, et al. 2014. “Pathogenic Landscape of Transboundary Zoonotic Diseases in the Mexico–US Border Along the Rio Grande.” Frontiers in Public Health 2. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2014.00177. This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the College of Sciences at ScholarWorks @ UTRGV. It has been accepted for inclusion in Biology Faculty Publications and Presentations by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks @ UTRGV. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. Authors Maria Dolores Esteve-Gassent, Adalberto A. Pérez de León, Dora Romero-Salas, Teresa Patricia Feria- Arroyo, Ramiro Patino, and John A. Goolsby This article is available at ScholarWorks @ UTRGV: https://scholarworks.utrgv.edu/bio_fac/128 REVIEW ARTICLE published: 17 November 2014 PUBLIC HEALTH doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2014.00177 Pathogenic landscape of transboundary zoonotic diseases in the Mexico–US border along the Rio Grande Maria Dolores Esteve-Gassent 1*†, Adalberto A.
    [Show full text]
  • Pathogenic Landscape of Transboundary Zoonotic Diseases in the Mexico–US Border Along the Rio Grande
    REVIEW ARTICLE published: 17 November 2014 PUBLIC HEALTH doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2014.00177 Pathogenic landscape of transboundary zoonotic diseases in the Mexico–US border along the Rio Grande Maria Dolores Esteve-Gassent 1*†, Adalberto A. Pérez de León2†, Dora Romero-Salas 3,Teresa P. Feria-Arroyo4, Ramiro Patino4, Ivan Castro-Arellano5, Guadalupe Gordillo-Pérez 6, Allan Auclair 7, John Goolsby 8, Roger Ivan Rodriguez-Vivas 9 and Jose Guillermo Estrada-Franco10 1 Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA 2 USDA-ARS Knipling-Bushland U.S. Livestock Insects Research Laboratory, Kerrville, TX, USA 3 Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Veracruzana, Veracruz, México 4 Department of Biology, University of Texas-Pan American, Edinburg, TX, USA 5 Department of Biology, College of Science and Engineering, Texas State University, San Marcos, TX, USA 6 Unidad de Investigación en Enfermedades Infecciosas, Centro Médico Nacional SXXI, IMSS, Distrito Federal, México 7 Environmental Risk Analysis Systems, Policy and Program Development, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, United States Department of Agriculture, Riverdale, MD, USA 8 Cattle Fever Tick Research Laboratory, United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service, Edinburg, TX, USA 9 Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Cuerpo Académico de Salud Animal, Universidad Autónoma de Yucatán, Mérida, México 10 Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria Zootecnia, Centro de Investigaciones y Estudios Avanzados en Salud Animal, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Toluca, México Edited by: Transboundary zoonotic diseases, several of which are vector borne, can maintain a dynamic Juan-Carlos Navarro, Universidad focus and have pathogens circulating in geographic regions encircling multiple geopoliti- Central de Venezuela, Venezuela cal boundaries.
    [Show full text]
  • Extensive Distribution of the Lyme Disease Bacterium, Borrelia Burgdorferi Sensu Lato, in Multiple Tick Species Parasitizing Avian and Mammalian Hosts Across Canada
    UC Davis UC Davis Previously Published Works Title Extensive Distribution of the Lyme Disease Bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato, in Multiple Tick Species Parasitizing Avian and Mammalian Hosts across Canada. Permalink https://escholarship.org/uc/item/7950629h Journal Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland), 6(4) ISSN 2227-9032 Authors Scott, John D Clark, Kerry L Foley, Janet E et al. Publication Date 2018-11-12 DOI 10.3390/healthcare6040131 Peer reviewed eScholarship.org Powered by the California Digital Library University of California healthcare Article Extensive Distribution of the Lyme Disease Bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi Sensu Lato, in Multiple Tick Species Parasitizing Avian and Mammalian Hosts across Canada John D. Scott 1,*, Kerry L. Clark 2, Janet E. Foley 3, John F. Anderson 4, Bradley C. Bierman 2 and Lance A. Durden 5 1 International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society, Bethesda, MD 20827, USA 2 Environmental Epidemiology Research Laboratory, Department of Public Health, University of North Florida, Jacksonville, FL 32224, USA; [email protected] (K.L.C.); [email protected] (B.C.B.) 3 Department of Medicine and Epidemiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA; [email protected] 4 Department of Entomology, Center for Vector Ecology and Zoonotic Diseases, The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station, New Haven, CT 06504, USA; [email protected] 5 Department of Biology, Georgia Southern University, Statesboro, GA 30458, USA; [email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +1-519-843-3646 Received: 13 September 2018; Accepted: 2 November 2018; Published: 12 November 2018 Abstract: Lyme disease, caused by the spirochetal bacterium, Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato (Bbsl), is typically transmitted by hard-bodied ticks (Acari: Ixodidae).
    [Show full text]
  • Bul 935.Pdf (1.029 Mb )
    SEP 2 4 1985 University Hi-jsissippi state MISSISSIPPI AGRICULTURAL ac FORESTRY EXPERinenTSTATIOn R. RODNEY FOIL, DIRECTOR MISSISSIPPI STATE, MS 39762 James 0 McComas. President Mississippi State University Louis N Wise, Vice President Jerome Goddard and B. R. Norment, Entomology Department, Mississippi State University Content List of Tick Species Occurring or Having Occurred in Mississippi 5 Identification Guide to Ticks Affecting Man, By Season of the Year 5 Key to Families and Genera of Adult Ticks 6 Index to Species Annotations 8 Species Annotations 9 Glossary of Terms Used in the Key 13 Literature Cited 15 Members of the superfamily Ixodoidea, or ticks, are Handrick, 1981; Jacobson and Hurst, 1979; Prestwood, acarines that feed obligately on the blood of mammals, 1968 and Smith, 1977). Other medical or veterinary reptiles and birds. They have a leathery, undifferen- projects have reported tick records from the state tiated body with no distinct head, but the mouth parts (Archer, 1946; Carpenter et al., 1946; Nause and together with the basis capituli form a headlike struc- Norment, 1984; Norment et al., 1985; Philip and ture. Mature ticks and nymphs have four pair of legs, White, 1955; Rhodes and Norment, 1979). There is a and the larvae have three pair. paucity of information on the distributuion and The two major families of ticks recognized in North abundance of ticks in Mississippi. America -(Figure 1) are Ixodidae (hard ticks) and Hard ticks have a four-stage life history. Some ticks Argasidae (soft ticks). Hard ticks are scutate with ob- complete their development on only one or two hosts, vious sexual dimorphism and the blood-fed females are but most Mississippi ticks have a three-host life cycle.
    [Show full text]
  • A Review of Ticks (Acari: Ixodida), Surveillance and Common Tick-Borne Diseases of South Dakota, Usa
    Proceedings of the South Dakota Academy of Science, Vol. 98 (2019) 119 A REVIEW OF TICKS (ACARI: IXODIDA), SURVEILLANCE AND COMMON TICK-BORNE DISEASES OF SOUTH DAKOTA, USA Lauren P. Maestas* University of South Dakota Department of Biology 414 E. Clark Street Vermillion, SD 57069 *Corresponding author email: [email protected] ABSTRACT The scope of literature concerning tick-borne disease in South Dakota (SD) is limited primarily to case reports by public health officials. Published records of ticks occurring in the state are scarce and are mostly limited to reports of ticks opportunistically collected from wildlife, with little focus on surveillance for ticks themselves or potential pathogens. There exists only one published record with a compilation of the ticks of South Dakota (1983). Here, the current literature on the ticks of South Dakota, the pathogens they may carry, and their relevance and history in South Dakota are reviewed. Three new tick species documented in the state since the last publication are included herein, bringing the total number of tick species in the state to 21. I review and update past reports to in- clude new county records and identification of pathogens previously undetected in the state and include some information on ongoing research involving ticks and tick-borne disease in the state. This manuscript and the projects referenced within were conducted with the goal of drawing attention to the need for tick surveillance in South Dakota. Keywords South Dakota, ticks, tick-borne disease, Lyme disease INTRODUCTION South Dakota (SD) is a Midwestern state consisting primarily of prairie habi- tat, with less than 4% of its total land area made up of forested lands (Walters 2016).
    [Show full text]
  • F. /9JV
    An analysis of certain Arachnids and Myriapods in the Department of Entomology, University of Arizona Item Type text; Thesis-Reproduction (electronic) Authors Hayden, David Lowell, 1926- Publisher The University of Arizona. Rights Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. Download date 05/10/2021 09:40:20 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/553832 AN ANALYSIS OF CERTAIN ARACHNIDS AND MYRIAPODS IN THE COLLECTION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ENTOMOLOGY, UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA b y David L. Hayden A T h e s i s submitted to the faculty of the Department of Entomology In partial fulfillm ent of the requirements for the degree of MASTER OF SCIENCE In the Graduate College, University of Arizona 1951 A p p ro v e d : Z f. /9JV r e c t o r o f ’Th e s i s b a t e 4 E<?7Q I / 9 S' l YX. Table of Contents Introduction The Phylum Arthropoda ' Classification of Arthropods in This Thesis Class Arachnida Order Acarina: Superfamily Ixodoldea Argasidae Ixodldae Economic Importance of Ticks in Arizona 30 Control of Ticks 36 Order Scorpionida 39 Scorpionidae Ho Vejovidae h i Chactidae # Buthldae 45’ Medical Importance of Scorpions U Control of Scorpions 46 Order Solpuglda 4? Eremobatidae 49 Importance of the Solpuglda 50 Order Pedipalpida 51 Thelyphonldae 52 Tarantulldae 52 Importance of the Pedipalpida ^31135
    [Show full text]
  • Research.Pdf
    EXPERIMENTALLY ASSESSING THE INFLUENCE OF RESOURCE AVAILABILITY AND SOCIAL AGGREGATION ON THE PARASITES OF RACCOONS _______________________________________ A Dissertation presented to the Faculty of the Graduate School at the University of Missouri _______________________________________________________ In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy _____________________________________________________ by RYAN JOSEPH MONELLO Dr. Matthew E. Gompper, Dissertation Supervisor MAY 2009 The undersigned, appointed by the dean of the Graduate School, have examined the dissertation entitled EXPERIMENTALLY ASSESSING THE INFLUENCE OF RESOURCE AVAILABILITY AND SOCIAL AGGREGATION ON THE PARASITES OF RACCOONS presented by Ryan Joseph Monello, a candidate for the degree of doctor of philosophy, and hereby certify that, in their opinion, it is worthy of acceptance. Matthew E. Gompper Joshua J. Millspaugh Charles F. Rabeni Brenda T. Beerntsen Lisa Sattenspiel DEDICATION My family not only made it a lot more entertaining and fun to talk about parasites and raccoons over the last five years, but my wife literally deserves credit for my and our family’s very existence. If it were not for a fortuitous series of events between 2000 and 2003 – which included meeting her and going along with her insistence that we apply for the Peace Corps – I would have never walked into the doctor’s office seven years ago and found out my heart was in urgent need of some serious work. I have been grateful every day since, and cannot thank her enough for her endless and enthusiastic support throughout our relationship and this dissertation. As one can imagine, there were some interesting moments amidst the pursuit of nocturnal raccoons, deadly parasites, and raising two young boys.
    [Show full text]
  • View of a Male, (B) Ventral View of a Male, (C) Dorsal View of a Female, (D) Ventral View of a Female
    University of Alberta Genetic diversity and host specificity in the winter tick - Dermacentor albipictus (Acari: Ixodidae) by Sarah Sin Tong Leo A thesis submitted to the Faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Systematics and Evolution Department of Biological Sciences ©Sarah Sin Tong Leo Fall 2012 Edmonton, Alberta Permission is hereby granted to the University of Alberta Libraries to reproduce single copies of this thesis and to lend or sell such copies for private, scholarly or scientific research purposes only. Where the thesis is converted to, or otherwise made available in digital form, the University of Alberta will advise potential users of the thesis of these terms. The author reserves all other publication and other rights in association with the copyright in the thesis and, except as herein before provided, neither the thesis nor any substantial portion thereof may be printed or otherwise reproduced in any material form whatsoever without the author's prior written permission. For my parents Tsorng Ren Leo & Hung Khim Kua And my little brother Shaun Leo ♥ Thank You ♥ ABSTRACT Dermacentor albipictus (Packard) is an obligate, hematophagous ectoparasite commonly found on large ungulates in North America. At high infestation levels, the winter tick is known to cause severe pathology and may transmit diseases to its hosts. Knowledge of the genetic diversity in this parasite will allow us to accurately identify the tick to species and better understand how it interacts with its hosts and surroundings. In this thesis, I developed and used 14 microsatellite loci to re-examine the species boundaries and to investigate host specificity in this tick.
    [Show full text]
  • Assessing Babesia Microti Sensu Lato in Small Mammals in Northeast Florida Kyla Marie Savick University of North Florida
    University of North Florida UNF Digital Commons All Volumes (2001-2008) The sprO ey Journal of Ideas and Inquiry 2008 Assessing Babesia Microti Sensu Lato in Small Mammals in Northeast Florida Kyla Marie Savick University of North Florida Follow this and additional works at: http://digitalcommons.unf.edu/ojii_volumes Part of the Life Sciences Commons Suggested Citation Savick, Kyla Marie, "Assessing Babesia Microti Sensu Lato in Small Mammals in Northeast Florida" (2008). All Volumes (2001-2008). 11. http://digitalcommons.unf.edu/ojii_volumes/11 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the The sprO ey Journal of Ideas and Inquiry at UNF Digital Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in All Volumes (2001-2008) by an authorized administrator of UNF Digital Commons. For more information, please contact Digital Projects. © 2008 All Rights Reserved Asessing Babesia Microti Sensu Lato in Small Mammals in Northeast Florida Kyla Marie Savick Faculty Sponsors: Dr. Joseph Butler and Dr. Kerry Clark Abstract Babesia microti is the causative agent of human babesiosis. Black-legged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) are the only proven vector and white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) serve as the main reservoir in northeastern United States. The aim of the present study was to determine if B. microti is present in small mammals in southeastern United States and to compare strains found in this study to reference strains from around the world. Blood samples were obtained from cotton mice, cotton rats, a flying squirrel, golden mice, rice rats, Virginia opossums, wood rats, and raccoons in northeastern Florida. DNA was extracted from the blood, and portions of the B.
    [Show full text]
  • American Hog-Nosed Skunk (Conepatus Leuconotus): a Technical Conservation Assessment
    American Hog-nosed Skunk (Conepatus leuconotus): A Technical Conservation Assessment Prepared for the USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region, Species Conservation Project December 21, 2006 Carron A. Meaney, Ph.D.1, Anne K. Ruggles2, and Gary P. Beauvais, Ph.D.3 1Denver Museum of Nature and Science, and Meaney & Company, 777 Juniper Avenue, Boulder, CO 80304 2Bear Canyon Consulting, LLC, 850 37th Street, Boulder, CO 80303 3Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, University of Wyoming, P.O. Box 3381, Laramie, WY 82071 Peer Review Administered by Society for Conservation Biology Meaney, C.A., A.K. Ruggles, and G.P. Beauvais. (2006, December 21). American Hog-nosed Skunk (Conepatus leuconotus): a technical conservation assessment. [Online]. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region. Available: http://www.fs.fed.us/r2/projects/scp/assessments/americanhognosedskunk.pdf [date of access]. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The authors would like to thank Rebekah Smith for running the distribution model, and Jerry Dragoo and an anonymous reviewer for the application of their knowledge and excellent input to the review of the draft of this assessment. Gary Patton tirelessly provided an extensive master edit. We are thankful to Jim Stuart, Bob Dowler, Michael Tewes, Jerry Dragoo, Trent Verquer, Bob Davies, John Young, Mary Lloyd, Ed Gorman, and others for their input. AUTHORS’ BIOGRAPHIES Carron Meaney received a M.S. degree and a Ph.D. in biology from the University of Colorado in 1983. She is a Curator Adjoint at the University of Colorado Museum and a Research Associate at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, where she served as Curator of Mammalogy for 10 years.
    [Show full text]
  • The Influence of Host Social System on Hostparasite Evolutionary Dynamics
    The influence of host social system on host- parasite evolutionary dynamics Dissertation submitted for the degree of Doctor of Natural Sciences Presented by Antoon Jacobus (Jaap) van Schaik at the Faculty of Sciences Department of Biology Date of the oral examination: October 5, 2016 First supervisor: Martin Wikelski Second supervisor: Gerald Kerth Konstanzer Online-Publikations-System (KOPS) URL: http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bsz:352-0-370734 Towards an understanding of host-parasite evolutionary dynamics in a social world using bats and ectoparasites as a model system. Supported by funding from: Contents Summary 1 Zusammenfassung 3 Chapter 1: General Introduction 8 Host-Parasite dynamics 12 Sociality and parasites 15 Simplifying the complexity: bat-ectoparasite model system 19 Research aims 24 Dissertation outline 26 Chapter 2: Host social organization and mating system shape parasite transmission opportunities in three European bat species 28 Abstract 30 Introduction 31 Methods 36 Results 40 Discussion 46 Supplementary materials 52 Chapter 3: The effect of host social system on parasite population genetic structure: comparative population genetics of two ectoparasitic mites and their bat hosts 56 Abstract 58 Introduction 59 Methods 64 Results 71 Discussion 82 Supplementary materials 87 Chapter 4: Host and parasite life history interplay to yield divergent population genetic structures in two ectoparasites living on the same bat species 92 Abstract 94 Introduction 95 Methods 100 Results 107 Discussion 113 Supplementary materials
    [Show full text]