Date of Award

Fall 12-1-2004

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Department

Life Sciences

First Advisor

John O. Whitaker Jr.

Second Advisor

Charles J. Amlaner Jr.

Third Advisor

Marion T. Jackson

Abstract

The ectoparasites of bats are an important and largely unstudied area of mammalian ecology. The structure of ectoparasitic communities on bats, and their interactions with their hosts, may help in the understanding of roosting ecology, pa1iurition, and other aspects of host natural history. In this study, a vigorous survey of the ectoparasitic fauna of the bats ofindiana was undertaken, to determine if changes in species composition has occurred over the past 30 years. This survey resulted in the recovery of 51,980 parasites of 13 families from 2,816 host individuals of l O species, documenting 16 new host records and 14 new state host locality records. Two methods of collection were utilized in efforts to develop a means of parasitic recovery that did not require the death of the host, and a live host examination technique was developed that adequately sampled parasites down to the size of macronyssid mites. The specificity of each of the dominate parasites was examined and structured within a quantitative framework, and found to closely match prior qualitative measures. Finally, Steatonyssus mites were examined with their hosts to determine if macronyssid mite reproduction was synchronized with host reproduction, and if site specificity changed upon the host during the reproductive season. Steatonyssus mites on Nycticeius humeralis and Eptesicus fuscus were found to increase in abundance during pregnancy and lactation and to decline during post-lactation, with a dispersal of mites moving onto juvenile bats when they reach volancy. Site specificity was also documented, with adults preferentially selecting the dorsal uropatagium and furred body over other regions, but were found moving across the wings ofjuvenile bats following weaning. Nymphal mites exhibited different specificity, preferring the ventral wings and dorsal uropatagium on adult bat hosts, but occurring primarily on the ventral wings and secondarily the dorsal wings on juvenile bats.

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