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Type: Journal Article
Author(s): Y. T. Hwang; S. L. Gardner; J. S. Millar
Publication Date: 2010

We investigated the responses of endoparasites in red-backed voles (Myodes gapperi) to fire in a boreal forest ecosystem. Because fire affects the environmental conditions and biodiversity of the forest ecosystem, the life cycle of parasites may also be affected because of the absence of intermediate hosts in the environment. We hypothesize that the prevalence of endoparasites would be influenced by the parasites' life cycle and habitat characteristics (forest vs. burned). We found that prevalence of endoparasites was different between forested and burned habitats (c2 = :37.49, P<0.00.1.). Cestodes, nematodes, and coccidia showed different responses to habitat alteration (c2 = 37.43, P<0.001). There was a higher prevalence of cestodes in forested (53.5%) than burned habitats (35.0%). However, there was higher prevalence of coccidia in burned (55.0%) than forested (42.9%) habitats. Furthermore, although prevalence of cestode infection was lower in burned than forested habitat, individuals in both habitats had similar intensities of cestodes. Our study showed that habitat can significantly affect the parasite communities, depending on specific parasite life cycles. © Wildlife Disease Association 2010.

Citation: Hwang, Y. T., S. L. Gardner, and J. S. Millar. 2010. Responses of endoparasites in red-backed voles (Myodes gapperi) to natural forest fires. Journal of Wildlife Diseases, v. 46, no. 1, p. 146-151.

Cataloging Information

Topics:
Regions:
Alaska    California    Eastern    Great Basin    Hawaii    Northern Rockies    Northwest    Rocky Mountain    Southern    Southwest    International    National
Keywords:
  • boreal forests
  • British Columbia
  • Canada
  • cestodes
  • coccidia
  • ecosystem dynamics
  • fire frequency
  • fire management
  • forest fire
  • forest management
  • insects
  • Myodes gapperi
  • Nematodes
  • parasites
  • small mammals
  • wildfires
  • wildlife
Tall Timbers Record Number: 24830Location Status: In-fileCall Number: Fire FileAbstract Status: Okay, Fair use, Reproduced by permission
Record Last Modified:
Record Maintained By: FRAMES Staff (https://www.frames.gov/contact)
FRAMES Record Number: 48650

This bibliographic record was either created or modified by Tall Timbers and is provided without charge to promote research and education in Fire Ecology. The E.V. Komarek Fire Ecology Database is the intellectual property of Tall Timbers.