Date of Award
4-21-2017
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Biology, MS
First Advisor
Than Boves
Committee Members
Brook Fluker; Tanja McKay
Call Number
LD251 .A566t 2017 M35
Abstract
Host-symbiont relationships are ubiquitous in nature, yet the evolutionary and ecological processes that have shaped these intricate associations are not well understood. Here, I explored the complex symbiosis between feather mites and their warbler hosts. I first considered how ecological context may influence feather mite abundance on two ecologically dissimilar warbler species, and how feather mite abundance may in turn influence the current reproduction and annual survival of hosts. Ecological context of hosts does play a role in feather mite abundance, and even though current reproduction may not be influenced by feather mite abundance, annual survival may be at a disadvantage. Secondly, I explored the coevolutionary relationships between feather mites and their warbler hosts, and found that although there is some evidence for coevolution, there is a significant amount of host switching, which is likely due to hosts’ similar ecological contexts.
Rights Management
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Recommended Citation
Matthews, Alix Elizabeth, "Ecological and Evolutionary Relationships Between Feather Mites and Parulid Warblers" (2017). Student Theses and Dissertations. 569.
https://arch.astate.edu/all-etd/569
