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The Effect of Host Density on Ectoparasite Distribution: An Example of a Rodent Parasitized by Fleas

2002; Wiley; Volume: 83; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.2307/2680129

1939-9170

Boris R. Krasnov, Irina S. Khokhlova, Georgy I. Shenbrot,

Insect and Pesticide Research

EcologyVolume 83, Issue 1 p. 164-175 Regular Article THE EFFECT OF HOST DENSITY ON ECTOPARASITE DISTRIBUTION: AN EXAMPLE OF A RODENT PARASITIZED BY FLEAS Boris Krasnov, Boris Krasnov Ramon Science Center, Jacob Blaustein Institute for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 194, Mizpe Ramon, Israel Present address: Ramon Science Center, P.O. Box 194, Mizpe Ramon 80600 Israel. E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorIrina Khokhlova, Irina Khokhlova Wyler Department of Desert Agriculture, Jacob Blaustein Institute for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, IsraelSearch for more papers by this authorGeorgy Shenbrot, Georgy Shenbrot Ramon Science Center, Jacob Blaustein Institute for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 194, Mizpe Ramon, IsraelSearch for more papers by this author Boris Krasnov, Boris Krasnov Ramon Science Center, Jacob Blaustein Institute for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 194, Mizpe Ramon, Israel Present address: Ramon Science Center, P.O. Box 194, Mizpe Ramon 80600 Israel. E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorIrina Khokhlova, Irina Khokhlova Wyler Department of Desert Agriculture, Jacob Blaustein Institute for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, IsraelSearch for more papers by this authorGeorgy Shenbrot, Georgy Shenbrot Ramon Science Center, Jacob Blaustein Institute for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 194, Mizpe Ramon, IsraelSearch for more papers by this author First published: 01 January 2002 https://doi.org/10.1890/0012-9658(2002)083[0164:TEOHDO]2.0.CO;2Citations: 107 Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Abstract The pattern of parasitism of the flea species Xenopsylla dipodilli and Nosopsyllus iranus theodori on the desert rodent species Gerbillus dasyurus was studied to test the hypothesis that the relationships between flea abundance and host density conform to pre-existing models of R. M. Anderson and R. M. May, with the correction that the density of those host individuals that possess permanent burrows (residents) is substituted for the overall host density. It was predicted that: (1) the intensity of flea infestation would increase in curvilinear fashion with increase of host density to a plateau that would be attained at a lower level of host density than would be expected from the basic model, and (2) the prevalence of flea infestation plotted against host density would be hump-shaped. The results indicated that intensity of flea infestation increased in either curvilinear fashion to an asymptote (for X. dipodilli) or linearly (for N. i. theodori) with increase of host density. As host density increased, the prevalence of infestation changed either unimodally (X. dipodilli) or logarithmically (N. i. theodori). In addition, there was a positive relationship between the mean number of fleas per host and the percentage of hosts infested. 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