Climate or host availability: what determines the seasonal abundance of ticks?

Oorebeek, Margot; Kleindorfer, Sonia

doi:10.1007/s00436-008-1071-8

Cited by 49 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 43 publications

(38 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Therefore, given that we observed more aerial insect feeding in island than mainland birds, lower mass in island birds may be selected for given their differences in feeding ecology. Although body mass is prone to diurnal and seasonal variation linked to fluctuations in food availability, parasite prevalence, and other ecological factors that can act at a regional scale (Creswell 1998;Oorebeek and Kleindorfer 2008), even when controlling for season, island birds had significantly lower body mass. Bill length is a highly heritable quantitative trait (Keller et al 2001).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Divergence in New Holland Honeyeaters (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae): evidence from morphology and feeding behavior

2009

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Studies of island versus mainland populations have provided insights into processes that shape adaptive divergence (e.g., through selection in allopatric populations) as well as patterns of morphological change. In this study, we compare the morphology and foraging behavior in New Holland Honeyeaters (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae) between Kangaroo Island and the South Australian mainland. We (1) provide descriptive information on morphology traits across populations to test previously described differences; (2) test the prediction that island birds will have a wider foraging niche, different use of foraging substrate, and different foraging techniques, and (3) test for evidence of reduced prey diversity on islands as evidenced by longer foraging time. The results provide support for the predictions. Island birds were larger than the mainland birds in tarsus (2.5%) and bill length (3.7%), had a wider foraging niche (mostly due to greater insect consumption), and foraged more from the bark and air (sallying). Consistent with other studies of island biogeography, at least one common mainland predator and several bird species are absent from Kangaroo Island, which may facilitate niche expansion in the island birds. A wider niche could also be favored by lower prey diversity on islands (a depauperate community): in this study, island birds had longer foraging times than mainland birds, which may be evidence for lower total prey density.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Divergence in New Holland Honeyeaters (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae): evidence from morphology and feeding behavior

2009

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Ambush ticks are expected to be more sensitive to short distance cues, like body heat and light intensity, which alert a tick to the presence of a possible host (Howell 1975). Birds that descend to ground level for foraging or drinking are presumed to be the common host for larval I. hirsti (Oorebeek and Kleindorfer 2008a). Because birds do not remain stationary for long periods of time while at ground level, larvae will have insufficient time to 'hunt' for their host.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Larval I. hirsti have only been recorded on passerines in South Australia (Kleindorfer et al 2006;Oorebeek and Kleindorfer 2008a). Field studies have shown that many tick species are attracted to a CO 2 source at a distance of 4 m (Wilson et al 1972;Koch 1987;Adeyeye and Butler 1991;Solberg et al 1992).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Adult I. hirsti are found on a wide variety of native and introduced mammals (Roberts 1970;Oorebeek and Rismiller 2007), including the western grey kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus), swamp wallaby (Wallabia bicolor), and koala (Phascolarctos cinereus). To date, larvae and nymphs have only been recorded on passerine birds in South Australia (Kleindorfer et al 2006;Oorebeek and Kleindorfer 2008a).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

What attracts larval Ixodes hirsti (Acari: Ixodidae) to their host?

2008

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Ticks are extremely susceptible to desiccation when not on a host. Even though Ixodid ticks are capable of surviving extreme conditions, it is in the best interest of the tick to locate a host quickly. The aim of this study was to determine the host stimuli used by larval Ixodes hirsti for location of their passerine host. Additionally, we recorded the average questing height of larval ticks. We found that I. hirsti larvae were attracted to shade and heat, while they were unresponsive to host odor and CO2. The average questing height was 12.4 cm. Sensitivity to both shade and heat will aid larval I. hirsti in their ambush strategy to find a host. Preference for shaded environments and a low questing height favors the occurrence of larvae in high humidity environments. Such moist environments indirectly increase lifespan duration because of reduced movement for water sorption, and increase tick questing which is limited by vertical mobility. Additionally, larval ticks with a low questing height have a higher chance of encountering a ground foraging passerine host.

show abstract

“…In addition to host factors, because ectoparasites tend to be more exposed to the environment than most other parasites, environmental factors may be particularly critical in determining prevalence, intensity, and richness of ectoparasitism (Cumming and Van Vuuren, 2006;Oorebeek and Kleindorfer, 2008;Merino and Møller, 2010;Malenke et al, 2011). Such factors influence fleas both indirectly, via their effects on many host characteristics, and directly, as many fleas spend much of their lives detached from the host and, even when attached to the host, generally remain in direct contact with the external environment (Krasnov et al, 2002b).…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%