@article {95242, title = {Tracking the origins of lice, haemosporidian parasites and feather mites of the Gal{\'a}pagos flycatcher (Myiarchus magnirostris)}, journal = {Journal of Biogeography}, volume = {40}, year = {2013}, month = {06-2013}, pages = {1082 - 1093}, type = {First published Dec 2012}, abstract = {

Aim:To discover the origins of the lice, haemosporidian parasites and feather mites found on or in Gal\ápagos flycatchers (Myiarchus magnirostris), by testing whether they colonized the islands with the ancestors of M. magnirostris or if they were acquired by M. magnirostris after its arrival in the Gal\ápagos Islands.

Location: The Gal\ápagos Islands (Ecuador) and north-western Costa Rica.

Methods: We collected lice, feather mites and blood samples from M. magnirostris on seven of the Gal\ápagos Islands (n = 254), and from its continental sister species, M. tyrannulus, in Costa Rica (n = 74), and identified them to species level using traditional taxonomy and DNA sequencing.


Results:The blood parasites from the two bird species were different: Plasmodium was found only in M. tyrannulus, while a few individuals of M. magnirostris were infected by Haemoproteus multipigmentatus from Gal\ápagos doves (Zenaida galapagoensis). Myiarchus tyrannulus was parasitized by three louse species, two of which (Ricinus marginatus and Menacanthus distinctus) were also found on Myiarchus magnirostris. We also collected one louse specimen from M. magnirostris, which was identified as Brueelia interposita, a species commonly found on finches and yellow warblers from the Gal\ápagos, but never recorded on M. tyrannulus. The richness of mite species was lower for M. magnirostris than for M. tyrannulus; all mite species or genera from M. magnirostris were also sampled on M. tyrannulus, but M. tyrannulus had two additional mite species.

Main conclusions: Our results revealed that two of the louse and three of the mite species we found on M. magnirostris are likely to have come to the archipelago with these birds\’ colonizing ancestors, but that one louse and one haemosporidian species were acquired from the Gal\ápagos bird community after the arrival of the M. magnirostris lineage. We also confirmed that, for closely related hosts, island mite richness was lower than on the continent.

}, keywords = {Costa Rica, feather mites, Galagapos, Haemosporida, island biogeography, island colonization}, doi = {10.1111/jbi.12059}, url = {http://doi.wiley.com/10.1111/jbi.12059}, author = {Eloisa H.R. Sari and Klompen, Hans and Patricia G. Parker} } @article {94820, title = {Patterns of Parasite Abundance and Distribution in Island Populations of Gal{\'a}pagos Endemic Birds}, journal = {Journal of Parasitology}, volume = {94}, year = {2008}, month = {06-2008}, pages = {584 - 590}, abstract = {

Parasite life-history characteristics, the environment, and host defenses determine variation in parasite population parameters across space and time. Parasite abundance and distribution have received little attention despite their pervasive effects on host populations and community dynamics. We used analyses of variance to estimate the variability of intensity, prevalence, and abundance of 4 species of lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) infecting Gala ́pagos doves and Gala ́pagos hawks and 1 haemosporidian parasite (Haemosporida: Haemoproteidae) infecting the doves across island populations throughout their entire geographic ranges. Population parameters of parasites with direct life cycles varied less within than among parasite species, and intensity and abundance did not differ significantly across islands. Prevalence explained a proportion of the variance (34\%), similar to infection intensity (33\%) and parasite abundance (37\%). We detected a strong parasite species-by-island interaction, suggesting that parasite population dynamics is independent among islands. Prevalence (up to 100\%) and infection intensity (parasitemias up to 12.7\%) of Haemoproteus sp. parasites varied little across island populations.

}, issn = {0022-3395}, doi = {10.1645/GE-1351.1}, url = {http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.1645/GE-1351.1}, author = {Santiago-Alarcon,Diego and Whiteman,Noah Kerness and Patricia G. Parker and Ricklefs,Robert E. and Valkiunas,G.} } @article {94469, title = {Host sympatry and body size influence parasite straggling rate in a highly connected multihost, multiparasite system}, journal = {Ecology and Evolution}, volume = {7}, year = {2017}, month = {Jan-06-2017}, pages = {3724 - 3731}, abstract = {

Parasite lineages commonly diverge when host lineages diverge. However, when large clades of hosts and parasites are analyzed, some cases suggest host switching as an- other major diversification mechanism. The first step in host switching is the appear- ance of a parasite on an atypical host, or \“straggling.\” We analyze the conditions associated with straggling events. We use five species of colonially nesting seabirds from the Galapagos Archipelago and two genera of highly specific ectoparasitic lice to examine host switching. We use both genetic and morphological identification of lice, together with measurements of spatial distribution of hosts in mixed breeding colonies, to test: (1) effects of local host community composition on straggling parasite identity; (2) effects of relative host density within a mixed colony on straggling frequency and parasite species identity; and (3) how straggling rates are influenced by the specifics of louse attachment. Finally, we determine whether there is evidence of breeding in cases where straggling adult lice were found, which may indicate a shift from straggling to the initial stages of host switching. We analyzed more than 5,000 parasite individuals and found that only ~1\% of lice could be considered stragglers, with ~5\% of 436 host individuals having straggling parasites. We found that the presence of the typical host and recipient host in the same locality influenced straggling. Additionally, parasites most likely to be found on alternate hosts are those that are smaller than the typical parasite of that host, implying that the ability of lice to attach to the host might limit host switching. Given that lice generally follow Harrison\’s rule, with larger parasites on larger hosts, parasites infecting the larger host species are less likely to successfully colonize smaller host species. Moreover, our study supports the general perception that successful colonization of a novel host is extremely rare, as we found only one nymph of a straggling species, which may indicate successful reproduction.

}, keywords = {Galapagos, host breadth, host switching, lice, parasite speciation, seabirds}, doi = {10.1002/ece3.2971}, url = {http://doi.wiley.com/10.1002/ece3.2971}, author = {Rivera-Parra, Jose L. and Levin, Iris I. and Kevin P. Johnson and Patricia G. Parker} } @inbook {94337, title = {New host-parasite relationships by host-switching}, booktitle = {Disease ecology {\textendash} Galapagos birds and their parasites}, year = {2017}, pages = {157 - 177}, publisher = {Springer International Publishing AG}, organization = {Springer International Publishing AG}, chapter = {7}, address = {Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland}, abstract = {

Host-switching is a natural phenomenon that many parasite species undergo as part of their life cycle; some are highly specialized, but others can read- ily change hosts to what is available in the community. Rapid environmental changes can open opportunities for host-switches that sometimes turn into important human and wildlife diseases. Island ecosystems contain large numbers of immunologically naive endemic species. The Gal\ápagos Islands still have all their avian endemics extant; however, the ongoing introduction of animals to the archipelago could prompt extinctions of some endemics. In our first example, we tell the story of avian haemosporidian research in the Gal\ápagos, which started with a small number of species, including conservation efforts to safeguard the little known endemic Gal\ápagos dove (Zenaida galapagoensis); the work has since expanded to include almost all Galapagos endemics. Our second example will focus on Gal\ápagos pen- guins (Spheniscus mendiculus) and Flightless cormorants (Phalacrocorax harrisi) infected by microfilariae (larvae of nematode worms). These two seabird species live in small populations mainly on the rocky coasts of Fernandina and Isabela Islands; they can experience devastating losses during El Ni\ño periods due to food shortages. Fortunately, our studies show that despite high prevalence rates of these parasites, little or no health effect has been detected to date in these three avian endemics. Further monitoring and pathogen research is necessary, however, to rule out conservation concerns related to health effects due to the arrival of additional pathogens, or outbreaks of existing pathogens brought on by environmental change.

}, keywords = {Diptera, Galapagos endemic birds, Haemosporida, hemiparasites, host-switching, Nematoda}, isbn = {978-3-319-65908-4 (print), 978-3-319-65909-1 (e-book)}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-319-65909-1}, author = {Santiago-Alarcon,Diego and Merkel,Jane}, editor = {Patricia G. Parker} } @inbook {94336, title = {Host-switching: how it starts}, booktitle = {Disease ecology {\textendash} Galapagos birds and their parasites}, year = {2017}, pages = {139 - 156}, publisher = {Springer International Publishing AG}, organization = {Springer International Publishing AG}, chapter = {6}, address = {Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland}, abstract = {

A parasite depends, during its entire life or at least part of it, on other organisms, but parasites often \“jump\” from one host species to another and may be able to colonize new host species. The chances of parasite spillover, the first step in such a host switch, may be influenced by factors such as the local ecosystem, com- munity composition, and modes of transmission, among others. In Galapagos, for example, seabirds show a spatially clustered community, with several species that are related and/or nest in close proximity, a seemingly perfect scenario for host switching. However, only one instance of a straggling ischnoceran louse and larva (indicating successful reproduction on the new host) was found on a different host species, suggesting that the specifics of ectoparasite body size and host feather interbarbular space may prevent lice from readily switching hosts. On the other hand, the haemosporidian parasite, Haemoproteus multipigmentatus, of the Columbiform-specific sub-genus Haemoproteus, was found in significant numbers of Galapagos passerines. The spillover events occur where Galapagos doves (Zenaida galapagoensis), a widespread endemic, are present or abundant enough; however, there is no evidence of parasite development in the passerine birds. Thus, the Galapagos archipelago provides an exceptional host-parasite system to investi- gate details of parasite spillover and its implications for host health and survivorship.

}, keywords = {Avian health, Galapagos, host switching, host-parasite interactions, spillover}, isbn = {978-3-319-65908-4 (print), 978-3-319-65909-1 (online)}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-319-65909-1}, author = {Maricruz Jaramillo and Rivera-Parra, Jose L.}, editor = {Patricia G. Parker} } @inbook {94335, title = {Colonization of parasites and vectors}, booktitle = {Disease ecology {\textendash} Galapagos birds and their parasites}, year = {2017}, pages = {45 - 79}, publisher = {Springer International Publishing AG}, organization = {Springer International Publishing AG}, chapter = {3}, address = {Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland}, abstract = {

Colonization comprises the physical arrival of a species in a new area, but also its successful establishment within the local community. Oceanic islands, like the Hawaiian and the Galapagos archipelagos, represent excellent systems to study the mechanisms of colonization because of their historical isolation. In this chapter, we first review some of the major mechanisms by which parasites and vec- tors could arrive to an oceanic island, both naturally or due to human activities, and the factors that may influence their successful establishment in the insular host com- munity. We then explore examples of natural and anthropogenic colonization of the Galapagos Islands by parasites and vectors, focusing on one or more case studies that best represent the diversity of colonization mechanisms that has shaped parasite distribution in the archipelago. Finally, we discuss future directions for research on parasite and vector colonization in Galapagos Islands.

}, keywords = {coevolution, dispersal, endemism, Host specificity, introduction, spread}, isbn = {978-3-319-65908-4 (print), 78-3-319-65909-1 (e-book)}, doi = {10.1007/978-3-319-65909-1}, author = {Arnaud Bataille and Levin, Iris I. and Eloisa H.R. Sari}, editor = {Patricia G. Parker} } @article {68920, title = {Lineage sorting in multihost parasites: Eidmanniella albescens and Fregatiella aurifasciata on seabirds from the Galapagos Islands}, journal = {Ecology and Evolution}, volume = {5}, year = {2015}, month = {Jan-08-2015}, pages = {3264 - 3271}, abstract = {

Parasites comprise a significant percentage of the biodiversity of the planet and are useful systems to test evolutionary and ecological hypotheses. In this study, we analyze the effect of host species identity and the immediate local species assemblage within mixed species colonies of nesting seabirds on patterns of genetic clustering within two species of multihost ectoparasitic lice. We use three genetic markers (one mitochondrial, COI, and two nuclear, EF1-a and wingless) and maximum likelihood phylogenetic trees to test whether (1) para- sites show lineage sorting based on their host species; and (2) switching of lin- eages to the alternate host species depends on the immediate local species assemblage of individual hosts within a colony. Specifically, we examine the genetic structure of two louse species: Eidmanniella albescens, infecting both Nazca (Sula granti) and blue-footed boobies (Sula nebouxii), and Fregatiella aurifasciata, infecting both great (Fregata minor) and magnificent frigatebirds (Fregata magnificens). We found that host species identity was the only factor explaining the patterns of genetic structure in both parasites. In both cases, there is evident genetic differentiation depending on the host species. Thus, a revision of the taxonomy of these louse species is needed. One possible explana- tion of this pattern is extremely low louse migration rates between host species, perhaps influenced by fine-scale spatial separation of host species within mixed\ colonies, and low\ parasite infrapopulation numbers.

}, keywords = {Chewing lice, cryptic speciation, lineage sorting, parasites, seabirds.}, doi = {10.1002/ece3.2015.5.issue-1610.1002/ece3.1587}, url = {http://doi.wiley.com/10.1002/ece3.2015.5.issue-16}, author = {Rivera-Parra, Jose L. and Levin, Iris I. and Kevin P. Johnson and Patricia G. Parker} } @article {68830, title = {Comparative Ectoparasite Loads of Five Seabird Species in the Galapagos Islands}, journal = {Journal of Parasitology}, volume = {100}, year = {2014}, month = {Jan-10-2014}, pages = {569 - 577}, abstract = {

In this paper we describe the ectoparasitic lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) found on 5 species of seabirds (magnificent frigatebird Fregata magnificens; great frigatebird Fregata minor; Nazca booby Sula granti; blue-footed booby Sula nebouxii; and red- footed booby Sula sula) on the Galapagos Archipelago. We found 9 species of ectoparasitic lice: 5 species of Pectinopygus ischnocerans, 1 infesting each host; 2 species of Colpocephalum amblyceran lice, 1 on each frigatebird species; and 2 shared amblycerans, Eidmanniella albescens (Piaget, 1880) found on Nazca and blue-footed boobies and Fregatiella aurifasciata (Kellogg, 1899) found on the 2 frigatebirds. We tested the relative importance and interactions of host sex, body size, host, island, host family, and breeding status and found that inter-island differences were the main predictors of prevalence and infestation intensity. These differences could be related to host density or weather, but further evidence is needed.

}, issn = {0022-3395}, doi = {10.1645/12-141.1}, url = {http://www.bioone.org/doi/abs/10.1645/12-141.1}, author = {Rivera-Parra, Jose L. and Levin, Iris I. and Patricia G. Parker} } @article {68824, title = {Birds are islands for parasites}, journal = {Biology Letters}, volume = {10}, year = {2014}, month = {08/2014}, pages = {20140255 }, abstract = {

Understanding the mechanisms driving the extraordinary diversification of parasites is a major challenge in evolutionary biology. Co-speciation, one proposed mechanism that could contribute to this diversity is hypothesized to result from allopatric co-divergence of host\–parasite populations. We found that island populations of the Gal\ápagos hawk (Buteo galapagoensis) and a parasitic feather louse species (Degeeriella regalis) exhibit patterns of co-divergence across variable temporal and spatial scales. Hawks and lice showed nearly identical population genetic structure across the Gal\ápagos Islands. Hawk population genetic structure is explained by isolation by distance among islands. Louse population structure is best explained by hawk population structure, rather than isolation by distance per se, suggesting that lice tightly track the recent population histories of their hosts. Among hawk individuals, louse populations were also highly structured, suggesting that hosts serve as islands for parasites from an evolutionary perspective. Altogether, we found that host and parasite populations may have responded in the same manner to geographical isolation across spatial scales. Allopatric co-divergence is likely one important mechanism driving the diversification of parasites.

}, keywords = {co-divergence, co-speciation, coevolution, population genetic structure}, issn = {1744-9561}, doi = {10.1098/rsbl.2014.0255}, url = {http://rsbl.royalsocietypublishing.org/cgi/doi/10.1098/rsbl.2014.0255}, author = {Koop,Jennifer A. H. and DeMatteo,Karen E. and Patricia G. Parker and Whiteman,Noah Kerness} } @article {48452, title = {Molecular and morphological divergence in a pair of bird species and their ectoparasites}, journal = {Journal of Parasitology}, volume = {95}, year = {2009}, month = {2009}, pages = {1372{\textendash}1382}, url = {http://phthiraptera.info/sites/phthiraptera.info/files/48452.pdf}, author = {Whiteman,Noah Kerness and Dosanjh,Visal S. and Ricardo L. Palma and Hull,J. M. and Kimball,Rebecca T. and S{\'a}nchez,P. and Sarasola,P. G. and Patricia G. Parker} } @article {48441, title = {Eight polymorphic microsatellite markers isolated from the widespread avian louse Colpocephalum turbinatum (Phthiraptera: Amblycera: Menoponidae)}, journal = {Molecular Ecology Resources}, volume = {9}, year = {2009}, month = {2009}, pages = {910 - 912}, abstract = {

We report eight novel microsatellite loci for Colpocephalum turbinatum, a parasitic louse of the endangered Gal\ápagos hawk (Buteo galapagoensis). Two island populations of C. turbinatum (N = 30) were genotyped for each locus. We found between two and 12 alleles per locus, polymorphic information content from 0.268 to 0.798, observed heterozygosity from 0.067 to 0.667 and no linkage disequilibrium was detected between loci. These markers will be useful in understanding contemporary gene flow of C. turbinatum among islands in the Gal\ápagos and in understanding transmission dynamics between B. galapagoensis hosts, within and between social groups. Because this louse is unusually widespread among avian host taxa, parasitizing at least 53 bird species in the Falconiformes, Strigiformes and Columbiformes, these markers are likely to be useful outside the context of the Gal\ápagos Islands.

}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1755-0998.2008.02473.x}, url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1755-0998.2008.02473.x}, author = {Peters,Maureen B. and Whiteman,Noah Kerness and Hagen,Cris and Patricia G. Parker and Glenn,Travis C.} } @article {48426, title = {Characterization of 10 microsatellite loci in an avian louse, Degeeriella regalis (Phthiraptera: Ischnocera: Philopteridae)}, journal = {Molecular Ecology Resources}, volume = {9}, year = {2009}, month = {2009}, pages = {882 - 884}, abstract = {

We isolated and characterized 10 polymorphic microsatellite loci in an ischnoceran louse, Degeeriella regalis, which parasitizes the threatened Gal\ápagos hawk (Buteo galapagoensis) and other falconiform birds. The loci were screened across 30 individuals from two island populations in the Gal\ápagos Islands. The number of alleles per locus ranged from two to 28. Polymorphic information content ranged from 0.14 to 0.94 and observed heterozygosity ranged from 0 to 0.67. These markers will be valuable in comparative population genetics studies in this species, which is the focus of a long-term population and disease ecology research program.

}, doi = { https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1755-0998.2008.02363.x}, url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1755-0998.2008.02363.x}, author = {Peters,Maureen B. and Hagen,Cris and Whiteman,Noah Kerness and Patricia G. Parker and Glenn,Travis C.} } @article {48000, title = {Co-phylogeography and comparative population genetics of the threatened Gal{\'a}pagos hawk and three ectoparasite species: ecology shapes population histories within parasite communities}, journal = {Molecular Ecology}, volume = {22}, year = {2007}, month = {2007}, pages = {4759 - 4773}, abstract = {

Comparative microevolutionary studies of multiple parasites occurring on a single host species can help shed light on the processes underlying parasite diversification. We compared the phylogeographical histories, population genetic structures and population divergence times of three co-distributed and phylogenetically independent ectoparasitic insect species, including an amblyceran and an ischnoceran louse (Insecta: Phthiraptera), a hippoboscid fly (Insecta: Diptera) and their endemic avian host in the Gal\ápagos Islands. The Gal\ápagos hawk (Aves: Falconiformes: Buteo galapagoensis) is a recently arrived endemic lineage in the Gal\ápagos Islands and its island populations are diverging evolutionarily. Each parasite species differed in relative dispersal ability and distribution within the host populations, which allowed us to make predictions about their degree of population genetic structure and whether they tracked host gene flow and colonization history among islands. To control for DNA region in comparisons across these phylogenetically distant taxa, we sequenced ~1 kb of homologous mitochondrial DNA from samples collected from all island populations of the host. Remarkably, the host was invariant across mitochondrial regions that were comparatively variable in each of the parasite species, to degrees consistent with differences in their natural histories. Differences in these natural history traits were predictably correlated with the evolutionary trajectories of each parasite species, including rates of interisland gene flow and tracking of hosts by parasites. Congruence between the population structures of the ischnoceran louse and the host suggests that the ischnoceran may yield insight into the cryptic evolutionary history of its endangered host, potentially aiding in its conservation management.

}, doi = { https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-294X.2007.03512.x}, url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/j.1365-294X.2007.03512.x}, author = {Whiteman,Noah Kerness and Kimball,Rebecca T. and Patricia G. Parker} } @article {47983, title = {Assessing the risks of introduced chickens and their pathogens to native birds in the Gal{\'a}pagos Archipelago}, journal = {Biological Conservation}, volume = {126}, year = {2005}, month = {2005}, pages = {429 - 439}, abstract = {

Poultry production is an important economic activity on inhabited islands of the Gal\ápagos archipelago. There has been a recent surge in both small-scale backyard chickens and larger scale broiler production associated with growth in the human population and the tourist industry. With increased poultry production, concerns have been expressed about the increasing risk of transfer of disease from chickens to native Gal\ápagos bird species that may have little resistance to introduced pathogens [Wikelski, M., Foufopoulos, J., Vargas, H., Snell, H., 2004. Gal\ápagos birds and diseases: invasive pathogens as threats for island species. Ecology and Society 9(5). Available from: URL:http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol9/iss1/art5]. This study evaluates risks posed by chicken disease to endemic and native Gal\ápagos bird species, based on empirical evidence of pathogens present in chickens on the islands and a literature review of effects of these pathogens in wild species. Pathogens identified in domestic chicken populations of immediate avian conservation concern are Newcastle disease, Mycoplasma gallisepticum, and the proventricular parasite Dispharynx sp. Newcastle disease (avianparamyxovirus-1) poses an imminent threat to Gal\ápagos penguins (Spheniscus mendiculus), Xightless cormorants (Phalacrocorax harrisi), and lava gulls (Larus fuliginosus), species with very small population sizes (less than 1500 animals each). Additionally, litter from broiler farms could affect ecological processes in local ecosystems. Improved poultry biosecurity measures are urgently needed on the Gal\ápagos Islands for avian disease management, yet developing these strategies presents political, social, and economic challenges.

}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2005.06.025}, url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006320705002673}, author = {Gottdenker,Nicole L. and Walsh,Timothy and Vargas,Hernan and Merkel,Jane and Jim{\'e}nez,Gustavo U. and Miller,R. Eric and Murray D. Dailey and Patricia G. Parker} } @article {47974, title = {Disease ecology in the Gal{\'a}pagos Hawk (Buteo galapagoensis): host genetic diversity, parasite load and natural antibodies}, journal = {Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B}, volume = {273}, year = {2006}, month = {2006}, pages = {797 - 804}, abstract = {

An increased susceptibility to disease is one hypothesis explaining how inbreeding hastens extinction in island endemics and threatened species. Experimental studies show that disease resistance declines as inbreeding increases, but data from in situ wildlife systems are scarce. Genetic diversity increases with island size across the entire range of an extremely inbred Gala\´pagos endemic bird, providing the context for a natural experiment examining the effects of inbreeding on disease susceptibility. Extremely inbred populations of Gala\´pagos hawks had higher parasite abundances than relatively outbred populations. We found a significant island effect on constitutively produced natural antibody (NAb) levels and inbred populations generally harboured lower average and less variable NAb levels than relatively outbred populations. Furthermore, NAb levels explained abundance of amblyceran lice, which encounter the host immune system. This is the first study linking inbreeding, innate immunity and parasite load in an endemic, in situ wildlife population and provides a clear framework for assessment of disease risk in a Gal\ápagos endemic.

}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2005.3396}, url = {https://royalsocietypublishing.org/doi/full/10.1098/rspb.2005.3396?url_ver=Z39.88-2003\&rfr_id=ori\%3Arid\%3Acrossref.org\&rfr_dat=cr_pub\%3Dpubmed\&}, author = {Whiteman,Noah Kerness and Matson,Kevin D. and Bollmer,Jennifer L. and Patricia G. Parker} } @article {47786, title = {Using parasites to infer host population history: a new rationale for parasite conservation}, journal = {Animal Conservation}, volume = {8}, year = {2005}, month = {2005}, pages = {175 - 181}, abstract = {

Only one of the 5000 extant louse species (Phthiraptera) and no species of flea (Siphonaptera), parasitichelminth (Platyhelminthes), parasitic nematode (Nemata), mite, or tick (Acari) is listed as threatened by the IUCN, despite impassioned pleas for parasite conservation beginning more than a decade ago. Although they should be conserved for their own sake, past arguments, highlighting the intrinsic and utilitarian value of parasites, have not translated into increased attention by scientists or conservation managers, at least by the standard of listing for protection. Here, the use of estimated genealogies and population genetic patterns of parasites to illuminate their hosts\’ evolutionary and demographic history is advocated. Parasite DNA generally evolves more rapidly than their hosts\’, which renders it an underexploited resource for conservation biologists, particularly in cases where the hosts\’ genealogy or degree of population genetic structure is difficult to measure directly. Moreover, parasite gene flow may occur during host dispersal irrespective of host gene flow, revealing host movement through space and time. Parasite ecology and evolution may thus become another tool for the management of endangered vertebrate populations. This will result in the recognition of new host records, parasite species and cryptic lineages, which will help lift the veil of ignorance with respect to parasite biodiversity.

}, doi = {https://doi.org/10.1017/S1367943005001915}, url = {https://zslpublications.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1017/S1367943005001915}, author = {Whiteman,Noah Kerness and Patricia G. Parker} } @conference {47738, title = {Comparative microevolutionary dynamics of an endemic Gal{\'a}pagos bird and its five ectoparasite species: A model for studying parasite speciation}, year = {2006}, month = {2006}, author = {Whiteman,Noah Kerness and Bollmer,Jennifer L. and Kimball,Rebecca T. and Dosanjh,Visal S. and Patricia G. Parker} } @article {45200, title = {Body condition and parasite load predict territory ownership in the galapagos hawk}, journal = {Condor}, volume = {106}, year = {2004}, month = {2004}, pages = {915 - 921}, url = {http://www.phthiraptera.info/sites/phthiraptera.info/files/8729.pdf}, author = {Whiteman,Noah Kerness and Patricia G. Parker} } @article {45188, title = {Effects of host sociality on ectoparasite population biology}, journal = {Journal of Parasitology}, volume = {90}, year = {2004}, month = {2004}, pages = {939 - 947}, abstract = {Theory predicts a positive relationship between parasite infection intensity and host density. However, this generalization is complicated in natural systems by differences in life history among parasite taxa, e.g., transmissibility. Accordingly, predictions relating host density to parasite load should be specific to each parasite taxon. To illustrate this, we studied parasites that differed greatly in life history in the context of the Galapagos hawk{\textquoteright}s (Buteo galapagoensis) variably cooperative mating system. Two louse (Phthiraptera) species were collected: Colpocephalum turbinatum (Amblycera), with 53 host species, and Degeeriella regalis (Ischnocera), with 10 host species, although B. galapagoensis was the only known Galapagos host. Sixty territorial adult male hawks from 26 groups of 1-6 males were quantitatively sampled for lice. Average abundance and intensity of C. turbinatum but not D. regalis were significantly larger in large groups of hawks than small groups. Males from the same polyandrous group harbored significantly correlated abundances of C. turbinatum but not D. regalis. Prevalence, average abundance, and intensity of C. turbinatum were significantly higher than D. regalis. These are the first results to demonstrate significant differences in a suite of population responses between these louse suborders in the context of host sociality.}, keywords = {Acciptridae, biology, ecology, Galapagos, hawk}, url = {http://www.phthiraptera.info/sites/phthiraptera.info/files/8716.pdf}, author = {Whiteman,Noah Kerness and Patricia G. Parker} } @article {42375, title = {Differences in straggling rates between genera of dove lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera) reinforce population genetic and cophylogenetic patterns}, journal = {International Journal for Parasitology}, volume = {34}, year = {2004}, note = {1117}, month = {2004}, pages = {1113 - 1119}, abstract = {

Differences in dispersal abilities have been implicated for causing disparate evolutionary patterns between Columbicola and Physconelloides lice (Insecta: Phthiraptera). However, no study has documented straggling (when lice are found on atypical hosts) rates within these lineages. We used the fact that the Galapagos Hawk, Buteo galapagoensis (Gould) (Falconiformes) feeds on the Galapagos Dove Zenaida galapagoensis Gould (Columbiformes) within an ecologically simplified setting. The Galapagos Dove is the only typical host of Columbicola macrourae (Wilson) and Physconelloides galapagensis (Kellogg and Huwana) in Galapagos. We quantitatively sampled and found these lice on both bird species. A DNA barcoding approach confirmed that stragglers were derived from Galapagos doves. We also collected a Bovicola sp. louse, likely originating from a goat (Capra hircus). On hawks, C. macrourae was significantly more prevalent than P. galapagensis. On doves, the two lice were equally prevalent and abundant. Differences in prevalence on hawks was a function of differences in straggling rate between lice, and not a reflection of their relative representation within the dove population. This provides further evidence that differences in dispersal abilities may drive differences in the degree of cospeciation in Columbicola and Phyconelloides lice, which have become model systems in evolutionary biology.

}, keywords = {animals, Base Sequence, Bird parasites, Ecuador, Evolution, host parasite, Lice/classification/genetics, Molecular Sequence Data, Phylogeny, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov{\textquoteright}t, Research Support, U.S. Gov{\textquoteright}t, Non-P.H.S.}, url = {http://www.phthiraptera.info/sites/phthiraptera.info/files/5618.pdf}, author = {Whiteman,Noah Kerness and Santiago-Alarcon,Diego and Kevin P. Johnson and Patricia G. Parker} }