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Ectoparasites of two species of rodents (Gerbilliscus leucogaster and Saccostomus campestris) and the role of host factors and habitat type on ectoparasite diversity and infestations
Thesis (MScConEcol)--Stellenbosch University, 2023.
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2023
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| _version_ | 1867614094837678080 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Smith, Amber Terry |
| author2 | Matthee, Sonja |
| author_browse | Matthee, Sonja Smith, Amber Terry |
| author_facet | Matthee, Sonja Smith, Amber Terry |
| author_sort | Smith, Amber Terry |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (MScConEcol)--Stellenbosch University, 2023. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/128353 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:46:35.101Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2023 |
| publishDateRange | 2023 |
| publishDateSort | 2023 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/128353 Ectoparasites of two species of rodents (Gerbilliscus leucogaster and Saccostomus campestris) and the role of host factors and habitat type on ectoparasite diversity and infestations Smith, Amber Terry Matthee, Sonja Stellenbosch University. Faculty of AgriSciences. Dept. of Conservation Ecology and Entomology. Rodents -- Ecology Ectoparasitic infestations -- South Africa Savanna ecology -- Africa, Southern Rodents -- Speciation Host-parasite relationships Rodents -- Effect of habitat modification on UCTD Thesis (MScConEcol)--Stellenbosch University, 2023. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: South Africa has a rich diversity of small mammals and, in particular, rodents. More than 50 rodent species that inhibit South Africa vary in geographic range and adaptability to habitat transformation. These opportunistic individuals are host to numerous ectoparasites such as fleas, lice, ticks, and mites. Gerbilliscus leucogaster (the Bushveld Gerbil) and Saccostomus campestris (the South African pouched mouse) are two widely distributed, opportunistic rodent species that are found across the Savanna biome of southern Africa. While several studies have been conducted on their biology, limited information is available on the parasite diversity and distribution associated with these rodents in South Africa. To address the paucity in data, the study was aimed at gaining a deeper understanding into the ectoparasite profiles and the extrinsic factors that drive these associations, with G. leucogaster and S. campestris at a local scale. In order to do this, we recorded the ectoparasite diversity and established the relationship between extrinsic factors (host sex, body size, reproductive state, and habitat type) and species richness and infestation parameters of ectoparasites on G. leucogaster. Secondly, we recorded the ectoparasite diversity on S. campestris and assessed the role of host life-history and habitat type in shaping ectoparasite species composition between G. leucogaster and S. campestris that share similar habitats. Overall, more than 20 epifaunistic (include non-parasitic mite species) taxa (representing species and species groups) were recorded within five ectoparasite groups (fleas, lice, ticks, mesostigmatid mites and chiggers) on G. leucogaster and S. campestris collectively. For both rodents, mites were the most speciose taxa. Reproductively active male G. leucogaster harboured more fleas and mites than females. Male G. leucogaster also harboured more mite species than females. Ticks were significantly associated with habitat type, with significantly higher tick numbers and more tick species in natural as compared to agricultural habitats. Gerbilliscus leucogaster and S. campestris each harboured unique epifaunistic taxa, which resulted in significant dissimilarity in taxon composition. This pattern was more pronounced when comparing the taxon composition between the two rodent species in the agricultural habitat type. It is apparent from this study that G. leucogaster and S. campestris host a diversity of epifauna and that extrinsic factors play an important role in shaping ectoparasite infestations at a local scale. Further studies should be conducted at a regional scale to assess geographical and seasonal patterns in ectoparasite infestations. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Suid-Afrika het 'n ryk diversiteit van klein soogdiere en veral knaagdiere. Meer as 50 knaagdierspesies wat Suid-Afrika bewoon, verskil in geografiese omvang en aanpasbaarheid by habitattransformasie. Hierdie opportunistiese individue is gashere vir talle ektoparasiete soos vlooie, luise, bosluise en myte. Gerbilliscus leucogaster en Saccostomus campestris is twee wydverspreide, opportunistiese knaagdierspesies oor die Savanna-bioom van Suider-Afrika. Terwyl verskeie studies oor hul biologie gedoen is, is beperkte inligting beskikbaar oor die parasietdiversiteit en verspreiding wat met hierdie knaagdiere in Suid-Afrika geassosieer word.Om die gebrek aan data aan te spreek, was die studie daarop gemik om 'n dieper begrip te verkry van die parasietprofiele en die ekstrinsieke faktore wat hierdie assosiasies dryf, met G. leucogaster en S. campestris op 'n plaaslike skaal. Om dit te kan doen, was die doelwitte van die studie eerstens om ektoparasiet diversiteit en vlakke van besmettings in G. leucogaster aan te teken en om die verband tussen ekstrinsieke faktore (gasheergeslag, liggaamsgrootte en voortplantingstoestand en habitattipe) en spesierykheid en infestasie parameters van ektoparasiete. Tweedens, om die rol van gasheerlewensgeskiedenis en habitattipe in die vorming van ektoparasiet spesiesamestelling tussen G. leucogaster en S. campestris wat soortgelyke habitats deel, te assesseer.In die geheel is meer as 20 epifaunistiese (ingesluit nie-parasietiese myte) taksa (wat spesies en spesiegroepe verteenwoordig) aangeteken binne vyf ektoparasietgroepe (vlooie, luise, bosluise, mesostigmatiedmyte en chiggers) op G. leucogaster en S. campestris gesamentlik. Vir albei knaagdiere was myte die besonderse takson. Reproduktief aktiewe mannetjie, in vergelyking met wyfie, G. leucogaster het meer vlooi- en mytindividue gehuisves. Mannetjie, in vergelyking met wyfie, G. leucogaster het ook meer mytspesies gehuisves. Bosluise was betekenisvol geassosieer met habitattipe, met aansienlik hoër bosluisgetalle en meer bosluisspesies in die natuurlike in vergelyking met die landbouhabitat. Gerbilliscus leucogaster en S. campestris het unieke epifaunistiese taksa gehuisves, wat gelei het tot ongelykheid in taksonsamestelling. Hierdie patroon was meer uitgesproke wanneer die taksonsamestelling tussen die twee knaagdierspesies in die landbou-habitat tipe vergelyk is. Dit is duidelik uit hierdie studie dat G. leucogaster en S. campestris 'n diversiteit van epifauna huisves en dat ekstrinsieke faktore 'n belangrike rol speel in die vorming van ektoparasietbesmettings op 'n plaaslike skaal. Verdere studies moet op 'n streekskaal uitgevoer word om geografiese en seisoenale verskille te evalueer aangesien dit verband hou met ektoparasiet-infestasie parameters. Masters 2023-03-06T08:33:48Z 2023-08-30T13:13:41Z 2023-03-06 2023-03-06T08:33:48Z 2023-08-31T09:18:27Z 2023-03-06T08:33:48Z 2023-08-31T09:18:27Z 2023-03 Thesis https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/128353 en Stellenbosch University application/pdf 123 pages : illustrations, maps application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Rodents -- Ecology Ectoparasitic infestations -- South Africa Savanna ecology -- Africa, Southern Rodents -- Speciation Host-parasite relationships Rodents -- Effect of habitat modification on UCTD Smith, Amber Terry Ectoparasites of two species of rodents (Gerbilliscus leucogaster and Saccostomus campestris) and the role of host factors and habitat type on ectoparasite diversity and infestations |
| title | Ectoparasites of two species of rodents (Gerbilliscus leucogaster and Saccostomus campestris) and the role of host factors and habitat type on ectoparasite diversity and infestations |
| title_full | Ectoparasites of two species of rodents (Gerbilliscus leucogaster and Saccostomus campestris) and the role of host factors and habitat type on ectoparasite diversity and infestations |
| title_fullStr | Ectoparasites of two species of rodents (Gerbilliscus leucogaster and Saccostomus campestris) and the role of host factors and habitat type on ectoparasite diversity and infestations |
| title_full_unstemmed | Ectoparasites of two species of rodents (Gerbilliscus leucogaster and Saccostomus campestris) and the role of host factors and habitat type on ectoparasite diversity and infestations |
| title_short | Ectoparasites of two species of rodents (Gerbilliscus leucogaster and Saccostomus campestris) and the role of host factors and habitat type on ectoparasite diversity and infestations |
| title_sort | ectoparasites of two species of rodents gerbilliscus leucogaster and saccostomus campestris and the role of host factors and habitat type on ectoparasite diversity and infestations |
| topic | Rodents -- Ecology Ectoparasitic infestations -- South Africa Savanna ecology -- Africa, Southern Rodents -- Speciation Host-parasite relationships Rodents -- Effect of habitat modification on UCTD |
| url | https://scholar.sun.ac.za/handle/10019.1/128353 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT smithamberterry ectoparasitesoftwospeciesofrodentsgerbilliscusleucogasterandsaccostomuscampestrisandtheroleofhostfactorsandhabitattypeonectoparasitediversityandinfestations |