Genes and fleas (Siphonaptera) of the long-tailed ground squirrel across Inner East Asia
- UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
- Amanda Ashley Reyes (Creator)
- Institution
- The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
- Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/
- Advisor
- Bryan McLean
Abstract: In host-parasite systems, the interplay of biotic and abiotic factors can alter the abundance and distribution of both host and parasite, profoundly impacting the evolution of both and the consequences for human and wildlife health. Understanding these dynamics holds particular significance in regions like Inner East Asia, where natural foci for plague (a flea borne illness caused by the bacterium, Yersinia pestis) continue to persist. However, limited sampling efforts for many mammalian species in this area highlight the need for further research to uncover the factors influencing host-parasite dynamics. The overarching goal of this work is to understand the historical (e.g., glacial cycles) and modern (host, climate, land use) factors that shape the diversity of mammals and their ectoparasites across Inner East Asia. To do this, this project aims to resolve phylogeography and response to past environmental change within the long-tailed ground squirrel Urocitellus undulatus and to describe how this and a suite of current host and climate factors shape the composition of its associated flea (Siphonaptera) community. Firstly, I examined the phylogeny and historical demography of U. undulatus across its range in Mongolia and Russia through a combined analysis of three mitochondrial DNA regions. The objective was to reveal the extent to which late-Pleistocene environmental changes have affected the genetic diversity within U. undulatus populations through time. Secondly, I examined the abundance and species richness of fleas on U. undulatus across Mongolia through a multi-level community analysis, with the goal of understanding how host-trait, climate, and land use factors influence flea community composition on host individuals. This work provides new biodiversity knowledge and a baseline for understanding host and parasite dynamics in a system that is especially important diseases such as plague.
Genes and fleas (Siphonaptera) of the long-tailed ground squirrel across Inner East Asia
PDF (Portable Document Format)
2848 KB
Created on 5/1/2024
Views: 5
Additional Information
- Publication
- Thesis
- Language: English
- Date: 2024
- Keywords
- Fleas, Host-parasite dynamics, Long-tailed ground squirrel, Mongolia
- Subjects
- Urocitellus undulatus $z Asia, Central
- Fleas $z Asia, Central
- Host-parasite relationships