Testing the parasite-mediated competition hypothesis between sympatric northern and southern flying squirrels.

ABSTRACT: Competition is a driving factor in shaping ecological communities and may act directly or indirectly through apparent competition. We examined a classic example of parasite-mediated competition between northern (Glaucomys sabrinus) and southern flying squirrels (G. volans) via the intestinal nematode, Strongyloides robustus, and tested whether it could act as a species barrier in a flying squirrel hybrid zone. We live-trapped flying squirrels (G. sabrinus and G. volans), grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis), red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus), and chipmunks (Tamias striatus) from June-September 2019 at 30 woodlots in Ontario, Canada. Fecal samples from squirrels were collected and analyzed for the presence of endoparasite eggs.

SUBMITTER: O'Brien PP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8695264 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature