Dissertation
Biotic Factors Affecting Tick Blood Feeding: Exploring Interactions of Deer Mice and Rocky Mountain Wood Ticks
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
01/2015
Handle:
https://hdl.handle.net/2376/112058
Abstract
This dissertation research is broadly focused on host-parasite interactions. Specifically, my research aims to understand how ecological factors affect host defensive responses and how these defenses affect parasite fitness. I employed a naturally occurring host-ectoparasite system between the deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus) and the Rocky Mountain wood tick (RMWT; Dermacentor andersoni). I focused on several factors that could affect blood-feeding of ticks, (i) prior infestation of the host, (ii) tick density, (iii) host age, (iv) tick age and (v) host diet composition. I found deer mice acquire resistance to RMWT larvae after one prior infestation. This resistance decreased the number of ticks that were able to blood feed, which reduced the number of ticks able to complete development. Deer mouse resistance is influenced by conditions of both the host and ectoparasite. My results showed a decline in feeding success as tick density increased, suggesting a negative density-dependent effect on feeding success. Additionally, I have observed host age affects blood feeding where more ticks were able to feed on older mice compared to younger mice. Furthermore, feeding success declined as the tick aged, indicating parasite fitness might change through time, regardless of host-contact. Finally, I demonstrated that host diet--variation in quality and quantity--influenced host defense mechanisms (i.e. resistance and tolerance), but not necessarily in a predictable way. Though physiological mechanisms driving these results have yet to be determined, my research has yielded new insights into the ways host-parasite interactions may be shaped. These interactions could result in significant impacts on parasite population dynamics and therefore pathogen transmission.
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Details
- Title
- Biotic Factors Affecting Tick Blood Feeding: Exploring Interactions of Deer Mice and Rocky Mountain Wood Ticks
- Creators
- Cami R. Jones
- Contributors
- Jeb P Owen (Advisor)Glen A Scoles (Committee Member)William E Snyder (Committee Member)Jesse L Brunner (Committee Member)
- Awarding Institution
- Washington State University
- Academic Unit
- Entomology, Department of
- Theses and Dissertations
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), Washington State University
- Number of pages
- 76
- Identifiers
- 99900581840901842
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Dissertation