Stable isotope analysis of ectoparasites as a tool for understanding trophic interactions with mammalian hosts.

ABSTRACT: Climate change is expected to expand the geographic ranges of ectoparasites, increasing the transmission of vector-borne diseases and necessitating a better understanding of ectoparasite-host trophic dynamics. Haematophagous ectoparasites can serve as valuable subsamples of their hosts, retaining isotopic values that reflect dietary information in both their blood meals and tissues. However, differences in the life histories and feeding strategies of lice, fleas and ticks may influence how host isotopic composition is preserved. Here, stable isotope values of carbon (δ¹³C) and nitrogen (δ¹⁵N) were used to investigate trophic interactions between ectoparasites and their mammalian hosts in three pairings: lice (Anoplura: Polyplacidae; n = 101) from Eurasian red squirrel

SUBMITTER: Mortier GG 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12586286 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature