Diet and Ectoparasites of the Southern Short-Tailed Shrew (<i>Blarina carolinensis</i>) in Louisiana

Sylvester, Terry; Hoffman, James C.; Lyons, Eddie K.

doi:10.3398/064.072.0414

Cited by 5 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…Unlike the Chinese mole shrew, some other shrew species have been reported to predominantly feed on arthropods, not earthworms. For instance, Diptera (files), Formicidae (ants) and Araneae (spiders) were the most prey species among Southern short‐tailed shrew ( Blarina carolinensis ; Sylvester et al., 2012). The diet of European water shrew ( Neomys fodiens bicolor ) is composed mainly of lumbricids, isopods and dipterans (Churchfield, 2009).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These special morphological adaptations help to capture earthworms and ants depending on A. squamipes semi-fossorial foraging behavior (He et al, 2016). Sylvester et al, 2012). The diet of European water shrew (Neomys fodiens bicolor) is composed mainly of lumbricids, isopods and dipterans (Churchfield, 2009).…”

Section: Characteristics Of Animal-derived Diet In the Chinese Molementioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, balsam pear and lettuce have been detected in the diet, suggesting that the Chinese mole shrew may cause damage to common vegetables in rural communities. Plant materials were also detected in the diet of several shrew species, such as armored shrew (Churchfield et al, 2010), and Southern short-tailed shrew (Sylvester et al, 2012), and Asian musk shrew (Brown et al, 2014). However, very few studies have reported F I G U R E 7 Animal (a) and plant (b) food items at taxonomic levels significantly differentiated between seasons as determined by linear discriminatory analysis (LDA) effect size (LEfSe).…”

Section: Crop Impacts Due To Chinese Mole Shrewsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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DNA metabarcoding provides insights into seasonal diet variations in Chinese mole shrew (Anourosorex squamipes) with potential implications for evaluating crop impacts

Tang

Xie

Liu

et al. 2020

Ecology and Evolution

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Characteristics Of Animal-derived Diet In the Chinese Molementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Crop Impacts Due To Chinese Mole Shrewsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

DNA metabarcoding provides insights into seasonal diet variations in Chinese mole shrew (Anourosorex squamipes) with potential implications for evaluating crop impacts

Tang

Xie

Liu

et al. 2020

Ecology and Evolution

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show abstract

“…Unlike the Chinese mole shrew, some other shrew species have been reported to predominantly feed on arthropods, not earthworms. For instance, Diptera (files), Formicidae (ants) and Araneae (spiders) were the most prey species among Southern short-tailed shrew (Blarina carolinensis ) (Sylvester et al 2012). The diet of European water shrew (Neomys fodiens bicolor ) is composed mainly of lumbricids, isopods and dipterans (Churchfield 2009).…”

Section: Characteristics Of Animal-derived Diet In the Chinese Mole Shrewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In addition, balsam pear and lettuce have been detected in the diet, suggesting that the Chinese mole shrew may cause damage to common vegetables in rural communities. Plant materials were also detected in the diet of several shrew species, such as armored shrew (Churchfield et al 2010), and Southern short-tailed shrew (Sylvester et al 2012), and Asian musk shrew (Brown et al 2014). However, very few studies have reported that shrews can cause damage to and contamination in grains.…”

Section: Crop Impacts Due To Chinese Mole Shrewsmentioning

confidence: 99%

DNA metabarcoding provides insights into seasonal diet variations in Chinese mole shrew (Anourosorex squamipes) with potential implications for evaluating crop impacts

Tang¹,

Xie²,

Liu³

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Diet analysis of potential small mammals pest species is important for understanding feeding ecology and evaluating their impact on crops and stored foods. Chinese mole shrew (Anourosorex squamipes), distributed in Southwest China, has previously been reported as a farmland pest. Effective population management of this species requires a better understanding of its diet, which can be difficult to determine with high taxonomic resolution using conventional microhistological methods. In this study, we used two DNA metabarcoding assays to identify 38 animal species and 65 plant genera from shrew stomach contents, which suggest that A. squamipes is an omnivorous generalist. Earthworms are the most prevalent (>90%) and abundant (>80%) food items in the diverse diet of A. squamipes. Species of the Fabaceae (frequency of occurrence [FO]: 88%; such as peanuts) and Poaceae (FO: 71%; such as rice) families were the most common plant foods identified in the diet of A. squamipes. Additionally, we found a seasonal decrease in the diversity and abundance of invertebrate foods from spring and summer to winter. Chinese mole shrew has a diverse and flexible diet throughout the year to adapt to seasonal variations in food availability, contributing to its survival even when food resources are limited. This study provides a higher resolution identification of the diet of A. squamipes than has been previously described and is valuable for understanding shrew feeding ecology as well as evaluating possible species impacts on crops.

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Ectoparasite Fauna of Rodents and Shrews with Their Spatial, Temporal, and Dispersal along a Degradation Gradient in Mabira Central Forest Reserve

Babyesiza,

Mpagi,

Ssuuna

et al. 2023

Journal of Parasitology Research

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Ectoparasites like fleas, mites, and ticks that are key carriers of harmful pathogens such as viruses, bacteria, cestodes, and nematodes live on rodents and shrews. It should be noted that rodents’ ecological adaptability makes them suitable as parasite hosts. The main objective of the study was to determine the ectoparasite assemblages in rodents and shrews along a degradation gradient, while comparing infestation levels in different habitats with varying levels of degradation. The study was conducted in Mabira Central Forest Reserve. Ectoparasites were collected following rodent and shrew removal trapping which was done using Sherman’s traps set along transects of 200 meters in three habitat strata that included adjacent forest habitats, degraded forest edge, and regenerating forest interior. Data was collected intermittently with a break every two months for one year from November 2018 to December 2019. A total of 1411 rodents and shrews were collected, yielding a total of 5692 ectoparasites from 22 host species (17 rodents and 5 shrews). The most prevalent group of ectoparasites was mites followed by fleas, lice, ticks, and earwig. Ectoparasite prevalence significantly differed depending on hosts species ( P = 0.001 ) and host age ( P = 0.022 ), but not host sex ( P = 0.78 ), while mean infestation significantly varied basing on host species ( P = 0.001 ), host sex ( P = 0.001 ), season ( P = 0.001 ), and habitat ( P = 0.001 ). Prevalence ( P = 0.001 ) and mean infestation ( P = 0.001 ) significantly varied across studied habitats. The study has emphasized the significance of Praomys jacksoni and Hylomyscus stella as significant hosts for mites and S. congicus as a significant host for fleas. Additionally, environment and host characteristics have a bearing on prevalence and infestation of ectoparasites with habitat degradation playing a significant role in the occurrence of ectoparasites, thereby emphasizing its contribution to zoonotic outbreaks.

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Diet and Ectoparasites of the Southern Short-Tailed Shrew (Blarina carolinensis) in Louisiana

Cited by 5 publications

References 19 publications

DNA metabarcoding provides insights into seasonal diet variations in Chinese mole shrew (Anourosorex squamipes) with potential implications for evaluating crop impacts

DNA metabarcoding provides insights into seasonal diet variations in Chinese mole shrew (Anourosorex squamipes) with potential implications for evaluating crop impacts

DNA metabarcoding provides insights into seasonal diet variations in Chinese mole shrew (Anourosorex squamipes) with potential implications for evaluating crop impacts

Ectoparasite Fauna of Rodents and Shrews with Their Spatial, Temporal, and Dispersal along a Degradation Gradient in Mabira Central Forest Reserve

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