Ectoparasite Community Structure of Two Bats (Myotis lucifugusandM. septentrionalis) from the Maritimes of Canada

Zenon J Czenze,Hugh G Broders

doi:10.1155/2011/341535

Abstract

Prevalence of bat ectoparasites on sympatric Myotis lucifugus and M. septentrionalis was quantitatively characterized in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick by making systematic collections at swarming sites. Six species of ectoparasite were recorded, including Myodopsylla insignis, Spinturnix americanus, Cimex adjunctus, Macronyssu scrosbyi, Androlaelap scasalis, and an unknown species of the genus Acanthophthirius. Male M. lucifugus and M. septentrionalis had similar prevalence of any ectoparasite (22% and 23%, resp.). Female M. lucifugus and M. septentrionalis had 2-3 times higher prevalence than did conspecific males (68% and 44%, resp.). Prevalence of infection of both genders of young of the year was not different from one another and the highest prevalence of any ectoparasite (M. lucifugus 64%, M. septentrionalis 72%) among all bat groups. Ectoparasite prevalence and intensity varied positively with roost group size and negatively with grooming efficacy and energy budgets, suggesting that these variables may be important in ectoparasite community structure.

Highlights

It is important to understand the species richness, size, and life history of ectoparasite populations to understand the biology of the host species because of the potential for ectoparasites to impact host fitness [1]
There was no difference in ectoparasite prevalence between male and female M. lucifugus young of the year (64.8% and 62.9%, resp.) or M. septentrionalis young of the year male and
Myotis septentrionalis was host to six species of ectoparasite while M. lucifugus was host to only three, with M. crosbyi being represented by a single individual

Summary

Introduction

It is important to understand the species richness, size, and life history of ectoparasite populations to understand the biology of the host species because of the potential for ectoparasites to impact host fitness [1]. Ectoparasites are present on almost all species of mammals, including bats [2]. Most ectoparasites of bats show strong coevolutionary ties to their hosts because they never or only briefly leave the host [3,4,5,6]. Many ectoparasites are present on hosts year-round whereas others only during critical stages of the host’s life cycle such as gestation or lactation. Ectoparasites may affect host fitness, and, as expected, a strong negative correlation was found between the number of Spinturnix psi on the bent-wing bat (Miniopterus schreibersii) and the host’s body condition [1]. Prevalence and intensity of ectoparasites on other small mammals and birds can vary according to several life history characteristics of the host [7, 8]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion