Time Since Fire Affects Ectoparasite Prevalence on Lizards in the Florida Scrub Ecosystem

[摘要] Prevalence of parasites can be an indicator of individual and population health of hosts. Populations of parasites can be affected by habitat management practices, however, which in turn can affect prevalence on hosts. We assessed the influence of varying fire histories on the prevalence of ectoparasites, primarily chiggers (mite larvae of the genus Eutrombicula), on the three most common lizard species resident in the Florida scrub ecosystem. Few individuals of the Florida sand skink (Plestiodon reynoldsi) harbored ectoparasites. The Florida scrub lizard (Sceloporus woodi) and the six-lined racerunner (Aspidoscelis sexlineata) had the highest prevalence of ectoparasites in recently burned (within 3 years) plots. Change in habitat structure or increased mobility of hosts following a recent burn may increase the host-parasite encounter rate.

[学科分类] 生态、进化、行为和系统

[关键词] ectoparasites;Florida;Florida sand skink;Florida scrub Lizard;habitat structure;scrub ecosystem;six-lined racerunner;time since fire