Ectoparasite diversity and host- parasite associations of bats ( Mammalia: Chiroptera) in Mount Makiling, Laguna, Philippines.

Date

4-2012

Degree

Bachelor of Science in Biology

Major Course

Major in Wildlife Biology

College

College of Arts and Sciences (CAS)

Adviser/Committee Chair

Leticia F Afuang

Co-adviser

Ireneo L. Lit, Jr.

Restrictions

Restricted: Not available to the general public and to those bound by the confidentiality agreement. Access is available only after consultation with author/thesis adviser.

Abstract

Two hundred twenty-five ectoparasitcs representing 36 species and seven families were collected from 140 bats captured in April to May, 2011. At least 46.42% (65) of the sampled bats were infested, having the highest diversity in Rhinolophus arcualus (15 spp.). There was no infestation in Hipposideros obscurus, Coelops hirsuta, Desmalopex leucopterus, Macroglossus minimus, and Haplonycieris fischeri, probably due to low sample size. There are new host records for 10 bat flies and two mites; plus four new ectoparasite records in Luzon Island. Brachytarsina werneri infesting four bats has the widest host range. Leptocyclopodia brevicula is monoxenous on Ptenochirus jagori while Phthiridium brachyacantha and P. mindanaense are stenoxenous. Five ectoparasite families were found exclusively on rhinolophids but only the Cyclopodiinae was found on pteropodids. Generally, pteropodids had higher mean intensity (3.54) than rhinolophids (3.03), while rhinolophids had higher mean abundance (2.02), prevalence (66.67%), and species richness (22) than fruit bats, 1.38, 38.95%, and 17 species, respectively. R. pseudopagodaruin and Ancystropus zeleborii have the highest prevalence rate of 13.57% and 12.86%, respectively. There is significant correlation between species richness and host sex (partiality on females) in host-parasite association analysis. However, parasitism rates are not related to age, reproductive condition, elevation of capture, weight, and forearm length. This is the first quantitative description of bat-ectoparasite relationships in mountains in the Philippines.

Language

English

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

Call Number

Thesis

Document Type

Thesis

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