Variation in the abundance of ectoparasitic mites of flat-headed bats

Libiao Zhang; Stuart Parsons; Peter Daszak; Li Wei; Guangjian Zhu; Shuyi Zhang

doi:10.1644/08-MAMM-A-306R2.1

Back

Variation in the abundance of ectoparasitic mites of flat-headed bats

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Variation in the abundance of ectoparasitic mites of flat-headed bats

Libiao Zhang, Stuart Parsons, Peter Daszak, Li Wei, Guangjian Zhu and Shuyi Zhang

Journal of Mammalogy, Vol.91(1), pp.136-143

2010

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1644/08-MAMM-A-306R2.1

Files and links (1)

url

https://doi.org/10.1644/08-MAMM-A-306R2.1View

Published Version

Abstract

China

ectoparasites

flat-heated bats

host characteristics

Macronyssus

parasite load

Tylonycteris pachypus

Tylonycteris robustula

We investigated the ectoparasitic mite loads (Macronyssus: Macronyssidae: Acarina) on 2 species of flat-headed bats, Tylonycteris pachypus and T. robustula (Mammalia: Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae) in 2 counties of Guangxi Province, southern China, from 2002 to 2005. In Longzhou County both species of bat occur sympatrically, but only T. pachypus occurs in Ningming County. Individuals of the smaller species (T. pachypus) harbored significantly more mites than did those of T. robustula. In both species males harbored more mites than nonreproductive females, pregnant females had more mites than lactating and nonreproductive females, and juveniles harbored more mites than adults. Mite load on both species of bats showed significant seasonal variation, declining from spring to winter. No correlation was found between mite load and size of the host colony. We discuss our findings in relation to the ecology and biology of both hosts and parasites.

Details

Title: Variation in the abundance of ectoparasitic mites of flat-headed bats
Authors: Libiao Zhang (Author) - Guangdong Academy of Sciences
Stuart Parsons (Author) - University of Auckland
Peter Daszak (Author) - Consortium for Conservation Medicine
Li Wei (Author) - East China Normal University
Guangjian Zhu (Author) - Guangdong Academy of Sciences
Shuyi Zhang (Author) - Consortium for Conservation Medicine
Publication details: Journal of Mammalogy, Vol.91(1), pp.136-143
Publisher: Oxford University Press
DOI: 10.1644/08-MAMM-A-306R2.1
ISSN: 1545-1542
Organisation Unit: School of Science, Technology and Engineering; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99576108302621
Output Type: Journal article

Metrics

9 Record Views

16 Times Cited - Web of Science

InCites Highlights

These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output

Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Zoology

UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This output has contributed to the advancement of the following goals:

Source: InCites