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Heather C Proctor - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Feather Mites play a role in cleaning host Feathers new insights from dna metabarcoding and microscopy
Molecular Ecology, 2019Co-Authors: Jorge Dona, Heather C Proctor, David Serrano, Kevin P Johnson, Arnika Oddy Van Oploo, Jose C Huguettapia, Marina S Ascunce, Roger JovaniAbstract:: Parasites and other symbionts are crucial components of ecosystems, regulating host populations and supporting food webs. However, most symbiont systems, especially those involving commensals and mutualists, are relatively poorly understood. In this study, we have investigated the nature of the symbiotic relationship between birds and their most abundant and diverse ectosymbionts: the vane-dwelling Feather Mites. For this purpose, we studied the diet of Feather Mites using two complementary methods. First, we used light microscopy to examine the gut contents of 1,300 individual Feather Mites representing 100 mite genera (18 families) from 190 bird species belonging to 72 families and 19 orders. Second, we used high-throughput sequencing (HTS) and DNA metabarcoding to determine gut contents from 1,833 individual Mites of 18 species inhabiting 18 bird species. Results showed fungi and potentially bacteria as the main food resources for Feather Mites (apart from potential bird uropygial gland oil). Diatoms and plant matter appeared as rare food resources for Feather Mites. Importantly, we did not find any evidence of Feather Mites feeding upon bird resources (e.g., blood, skin) other than potentially uropygial gland oil. In addition, we found a high prevalence of both keratinophilic and pathogenic fungal taxa in the Feather mite species examined. Altogether, our results shed light on the long-standing question of the nature of the relationship between birds and their vane-dwelling Feather Mites, supporting previous evidence for a commensalistic-mutualistic role of Feather Mites, which are revealed as likely fungivore-microbivore-detritivore symbionts of bird Feathers.
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host specificity infrequent major host switching and the diversification of highly host specific symbionts the case of vane dwelling Feather Mites
Global Ecology and Biogeography, 2018Co-Authors: Jorge Dona, David Serrano, Heather C Proctor, Sergey Mironov, Roger JovaniAbstract:Aim Highly host-specific symbionts are very rarely found except with their typical host species. Although switches to new hosts are rare and difficult to detect, a switch to a host phylogenetically distant from the original one (a ‘major host switch’) could allow diversification of the symbionts onto the new host lineage. The consequences of such major host switches on the diversification of highly host-specific symbionts of animals have rarely been explored. Here, we examine the host specificity of vane-dwelling Feather Mites, a group that shows strong specificity, together with their host-switching dynamics and the consequences of major host switches for their diversification. Location Global. Time period From 1882 to 2015. Major taxa studied Feather Mites and birds. Methods Using the largest published dataset of Feather mite–bird associations, we analysed raw, phylogenetic and geographical host specificity of Feather Mites. We studied host-switching dynamics by describing the sharing by Feather Mites of bird species with different phylogenetic distances. For three of the most species-rich Feather mite families, we quantified the consequences of major host switches for Feather mite diversification. Results Most Feather mite species (84%) inhabit one to three very closely related host species. Assemblages of Feather Mites on birds do not show a geographical signature, but rather show strong host-driven structuring. The probability that a mite species occurs on two host species decays sharply with host phylogenetic distance, with only one instance of a Feather mite species occupying distantly related hosts from different orders. However, results suggest that despite the strong host specificity, a few major host switches triggered the origin of 21% of the species and 38% of the genera of the mite families studied. Main conclusions We show that Feather Mites are highly host-specific symbionts, whose assemblages do not show geographical structure, even at a continental scale. We conclude that major host switches are very rare events with strong macroevolutionary consequences for Feather mite diversity.
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high diversity and low genetic structure of Feather Mites associated with a phenotypically variable bird host
Parasitology, 2018Co-Authors: Sofia Fernandezgonzalez, Heather C Proctor, Ivan De La Hera, Anton Perezrodriguez, Javier PereztrisAbstract:Obligate symbionts may be genetically structured among host individuals and among phenotypically distinct host populations. Such processes may in turn determine within-host genetic diversity of symbionts, which is relevant for understanding symbiont population dynamics. We analysed the population genetic structure of two species of Feather Mites (Proctophyllodes sylviae and Trouessartia bifurcata) in migratory and resident blackcaps Sylvia atricapilla that winter sympatrically. Resident and migratory hosts may provide Mites with habitats of different qualities, what might promote specialization of mite populations. We found high genetic diversity of within-host populations for both mite species, but no sign of genetic structure of Mites between migratory and resident hosts. Our results suggest that, although dispersal mechanisms between hosts during the non-breeding season are unclear, mite populations are not limited by transmission bottlenecks that would reduce genetic diversity among individuals that share a host. Additionally, there is no evidence that host phenotypic divergence (associated with the evolution of migration and residency) has promoted the evolution of host-specialist mite populations. Unrestricted dispersal among host types may allow symbiotic organisms to avoid inbreeding and to persist in the face of habitat heterogeneity in phenotypically diverse host populations.
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global associations between birds and vane dwelling Feather Mites
Ecology, 2016Co-Authors: Jorge Dona, David Serrano, Heather C Proctor, Sergey Mironov, Roger JovaniAbstract:Understanding host–symbiont networks is a major question in evolutionary ecology. Birds host a great diversity of endo- and ectosymbiotic organisms, with Feather Mites (Arachnida: Acariformes: Analgoidea, Pterolichoidea) being among the most diverse of avian symbionts. A global approach to the ecology and evolution of bird–Feather-mite associations has been hampered because of the absence of a centralized data repository. Here we present the most extensive data set of associations between Feather Mites and birds. Data include 12 036 records of 1887 Feather mite species located on the flight Feathers of 2234 bird species from 147 countries. Feather Mites typically located inside quills, on the skin, or on downy body Feathers are not included. Data were extracted from 493 published sources dating from 1882 to 2015. Data exploration shows that although most continents and bird families are represented, most bird species remain unexplored for Feather Mites. Nevertheless, this is the most comprehensive data set available for enabling global macroecological analyses of Feather Mites and their hosts, such as ecological network analyses. This metadata file outlines the structure of these data and provides primary references for all records used.
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niche partitioning of Feather Mites within a seabird host calonectris borealis
PLOS ONE, 2015Co-Authors: Heather C Proctor, Laura M Stefan, Elena Gomezdiaz, Karen D Mccoy, Eric Elguero, Jacob GonzalezsolisAbstract:According to classic niche theory, species can coexist in heterogeneous environments by reducing interspecific competition via niche partitioning, e.g. trophic or spatial partitioning. However, support for the role of competition on niche partitioning remains controversial. Here, we tested for spatial and trophic partitioning in Feather Mites, a diverse and abundant group of arthropods. We focused on the two dominant mite species, Microspalax brevipes and Zachvatkinia ovata, inhabiting flight Feathers of the Cory’s shearwater, Calonectris borealis. We performed mite counts across and within primary and tail Feathers on free-living shearwaters breeding on an oceanic island (Gran Canaria, Canary Islands). We then investigated trophic relationships between the two mite species and the host using stable isotope analyses of carbon and nitrogen on mite tissues and potential host food sources. The distribution of the two mite species showed clear spatial segregation among Feathers; M. brevipes showed high preference for the central wing primary Feathers, whereas Z. ovata was restricted to the two outermost primaries. Morphological differences between M. brevipes and Z. ovata support an adaptive basis for the spatial segregation of the two mite species. However, the two Mites overlap in some central primaries and statistical modeling showed that Z. ovata tends to outcompete M. brevipes. Isotopic analyses indicated similar isotopic values for the two mite species and a strong correlation in carbon signatures between Mites inhabiting the same individual host suggesting that diet is mainly based on shared host-associated resources. Among the four candidate tissues examined (blood, Feather remains, skin remains and preen gland oil), we conclude that the diet is most likely dominated by preen gland oil, while the contribution of exogenous material to mite diets is less marked. Our results indicate that ongoing competition for space and resources plays a central role in structuring Feather mite communities. They also illustrate that symbiotic infracommunities are excellent model systems to study trophic ecology, and can improve our understanding of mechanisms of niche differentiation and species coexistence.
Roger Jovani - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Feather Mites play a role in cleaning host Feathers new insights from dna metabarcoding and microscopy
Molecular Ecology, 2019Co-Authors: Jorge Dona, Heather C Proctor, David Serrano, Kevin P Johnson, Arnika Oddy Van Oploo, Jose C Huguettapia, Marina S Ascunce, Roger JovaniAbstract:: Parasites and other symbionts are crucial components of ecosystems, regulating host populations and supporting food webs. However, most symbiont systems, especially those involving commensals and mutualists, are relatively poorly understood. In this study, we have investigated the nature of the symbiotic relationship between birds and their most abundant and diverse ectosymbionts: the vane-dwelling Feather Mites. For this purpose, we studied the diet of Feather Mites using two complementary methods. First, we used light microscopy to examine the gut contents of 1,300 individual Feather Mites representing 100 mite genera (18 families) from 190 bird species belonging to 72 families and 19 orders. Second, we used high-throughput sequencing (HTS) and DNA metabarcoding to determine gut contents from 1,833 individual Mites of 18 species inhabiting 18 bird species. Results showed fungi and potentially bacteria as the main food resources for Feather Mites (apart from potential bird uropygial gland oil). Diatoms and plant matter appeared as rare food resources for Feather Mites. Importantly, we did not find any evidence of Feather Mites feeding upon bird resources (e.g., blood, skin) other than potentially uropygial gland oil. In addition, we found a high prevalence of both keratinophilic and pathogenic fungal taxa in the Feather mite species examined. Altogether, our results shed light on the long-standing question of the nature of the relationship between birds and their vane-dwelling Feather Mites, supporting previous evidence for a commensalistic-mutualistic role of Feather Mites, which are revealed as likely fungivore-microbivore-detritivore symbionts of bird Feathers.
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host specificity infrequent major host switching and the diversification of highly host specific symbionts the case of vane dwelling Feather Mites
Global Ecology and Biogeography, 2018Co-Authors: Jorge Dona, David Serrano, Heather C Proctor, Sergey Mironov, Roger JovaniAbstract:Aim Highly host-specific symbionts are very rarely found except with their typical host species. Although switches to new hosts are rare and difficult to detect, a switch to a host phylogenetically distant from the original one (a ‘major host switch’) could allow diversification of the symbionts onto the new host lineage. The consequences of such major host switches on the diversification of highly host-specific symbionts of animals have rarely been explored. Here, we examine the host specificity of vane-dwelling Feather Mites, a group that shows strong specificity, together with their host-switching dynamics and the consequences of major host switches for their diversification. Location Global. Time period From 1882 to 2015. Major taxa studied Feather Mites and birds. Methods Using the largest published dataset of Feather mite–bird associations, we analysed raw, phylogenetic and geographical host specificity of Feather Mites. We studied host-switching dynamics by describing the sharing by Feather Mites of bird species with different phylogenetic distances. For three of the most species-rich Feather mite families, we quantified the consequences of major host switches for Feather mite diversification. Results Most Feather mite species (84%) inhabit one to three very closely related host species. Assemblages of Feather Mites on birds do not show a geographical signature, but rather show strong host-driven structuring. The probability that a mite species occurs on two host species decays sharply with host phylogenetic distance, with only one instance of a Feather mite species occupying distantly related hosts from different orders. However, results suggest that despite the strong host specificity, a few major host switches triggered the origin of 21% of the species and 38% of the genera of the mite families studied. Main conclusions We show that Feather Mites are highly host-specific symbionts, whose assemblages do not show geographical structure, even at a continental scale. We conclude that major host switches are very rare events with strong macroevolutionary consequences for Feather mite diversity.
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vertical transmission in Feather Mites insights into its adaptive value
Ecological Entomology, 2017Co-Authors: Jorge Dona, Óscar Frías, Guillermo Blanco, Jaime Potti, Ivan De La Hera, Roger JovaniAbstract:1. The consequences of symbiont transmission strategies are better understood than their adaptive causes. 2. Feather Mites are permanent ectosymbionts of birds assumed to be transmitted mainly vertically from parents to offspring. The transmission of Proctophyllodes doleophyes Gaud (Astigmata, Proctophyllodidae) was studied in two European populations of pied flycatchers, Ficedula hypoleuca Pallas (Passeriformes, Muscicapidae). 3. The vertical transmission of this mite species is demonstrated here with an acaricide experiment. This study also compared (for two distant populations during 4 years) patterns in reductions in mite intensity in adult birds, from egg incubation to chick-rearing periods, with the predictions of three hypotheses on how host survival prospects and mite intraspecific competition might drive Feather Mites' transmission strategy. 4. The results are in agreement with previous studies and show that Feather Mites transmit massively from parents to chicks. 5. The magnitude of the transmission was closer to that predicted by the hypothesis based on intraspecific competition, while a bet-hedging strategy is also partially supported.
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global associations between birds and vane dwelling Feather Mites
Ecology, 2016Co-Authors: Jorge Dona, David Serrano, Heather C Proctor, Sergey Mironov, Roger JovaniAbstract:Understanding host–symbiont networks is a major question in evolutionary ecology. Birds host a great diversity of endo- and ectosymbiotic organisms, with Feather Mites (Arachnida: Acariformes: Analgoidea, Pterolichoidea) being among the most diverse of avian symbionts. A global approach to the ecology and evolution of bird–Feather-mite associations has been hampered because of the absence of a centralized data repository. Here we present the most extensive data set of associations between Feather Mites and birds. Data include 12 036 records of 1887 Feather mite species located on the flight Feathers of 2234 bird species from 147 countries. Feather Mites typically located inside quills, on the skin, or on downy body Feathers are not included. Data were extracted from 493 published sources dating from 1882 to 2015. Data exploration shows that although most continents and bird families are represented, most bird species remain unexplored for Feather Mites. Nevertheless, this is the most comprehensive data set available for enabling global macroecological analyses of Feather Mites and their hosts, such as ecological network analyses. This metadata file outlines the structure of these data and provides primary references for all records used.
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Resemblance within flocks and individual differences in Feather mite abundance on long-tailed tits, Aegithalos caudatus (L.).
Ecoscience, 2016Co-Authors: Roger Jovani, Guillermo BlancoAbstract:Even though Feather Mites are arthropod ectosymbionts widely distributed on almost all orders of birds, the nature and functional relationship of the interaction between Feather Mites and birds rem...
David Serrano - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Feather Mites play a role in cleaning host Feathers new insights from dna metabarcoding and microscopy
Molecular Ecology, 2019Co-Authors: Jorge Dona, Heather C Proctor, David Serrano, Kevin P Johnson, Arnika Oddy Van Oploo, Jose C Huguettapia, Marina S Ascunce, Roger JovaniAbstract:: Parasites and other symbionts are crucial components of ecosystems, regulating host populations and supporting food webs. However, most symbiont systems, especially those involving commensals and mutualists, are relatively poorly understood. In this study, we have investigated the nature of the symbiotic relationship between birds and their most abundant and diverse ectosymbionts: the vane-dwelling Feather Mites. For this purpose, we studied the diet of Feather Mites using two complementary methods. First, we used light microscopy to examine the gut contents of 1,300 individual Feather Mites representing 100 mite genera (18 families) from 190 bird species belonging to 72 families and 19 orders. Second, we used high-throughput sequencing (HTS) and DNA metabarcoding to determine gut contents from 1,833 individual Mites of 18 species inhabiting 18 bird species. Results showed fungi and potentially bacteria as the main food resources for Feather Mites (apart from potential bird uropygial gland oil). Diatoms and plant matter appeared as rare food resources for Feather Mites. Importantly, we did not find any evidence of Feather Mites feeding upon bird resources (e.g., blood, skin) other than potentially uropygial gland oil. In addition, we found a high prevalence of both keratinophilic and pathogenic fungal taxa in the Feather mite species examined. Altogether, our results shed light on the long-standing question of the nature of the relationship between birds and their vane-dwelling Feather Mites, supporting previous evidence for a commensalistic-mutualistic role of Feather Mites, which are revealed as likely fungivore-microbivore-detritivore symbionts of bird Feathers.
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host specificity infrequent major host switching and the diversification of highly host specific symbionts the case of vane dwelling Feather Mites
Global Ecology and Biogeography, 2018Co-Authors: Jorge Dona, David Serrano, Heather C Proctor, Sergey Mironov, Roger JovaniAbstract:Aim Highly host-specific symbionts are very rarely found except with their typical host species. Although switches to new hosts are rare and difficult to detect, a switch to a host phylogenetically distant from the original one (a ‘major host switch’) could allow diversification of the symbionts onto the new host lineage. The consequences of such major host switches on the diversification of highly host-specific symbionts of animals have rarely been explored. Here, we examine the host specificity of vane-dwelling Feather Mites, a group that shows strong specificity, together with their host-switching dynamics and the consequences of major host switches for their diversification. Location Global. Time period From 1882 to 2015. Major taxa studied Feather Mites and birds. Methods Using the largest published dataset of Feather mite–bird associations, we analysed raw, phylogenetic and geographical host specificity of Feather Mites. We studied host-switching dynamics by describing the sharing by Feather Mites of bird species with different phylogenetic distances. For three of the most species-rich Feather mite families, we quantified the consequences of major host switches for Feather mite diversification. Results Most Feather mite species (84%) inhabit one to three very closely related host species. Assemblages of Feather Mites on birds do not show a geographical signature, but rather show strong host-driven structuring. The probability that a mite species occurs on two host species decays sharply with host phylogenetic distance, with only one instance of a Feather mite species occupying distantly related hosts from different orders. However, results suggest that despite the strong host specificity, a few major host switches triggered the origin of 21% of the species and 38% of the genera of the mite families studied. Main conclusions We show that Feather Mites are highly host-specific symbionts, whose assemblages do not show geographical structure, even at a continental scale. We conclude that major host switches are very rare events with strong macroevolutionary consequences for Feather mite diversity.
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global associations between birds and vane dwelling Feather Mites
Ecology, 2016Co-Authors: Jorge Dona, David Serrano, Heather C Proctor, Sergey Mironov, Roger JovaniAbstract:Understanding host–symbiont networks is a major question in evolutionary ecology. Birds host a great diversity of endo- and ectosymbiotic organisms, with Feather Mites (Arachnida: Acariformes: Analgoidea, Pterolichoidea) being among the most diverse of avian symbionts. A global approach to the ecology and evolution of bird–Feather-mite associations has been hampered because of the absence of a centralized data repository. Here we present the most extensive data set of associations between Feather Mites and birds. Data include 12 036 records of 1887 Feather mite species located on the flight Feathers of 2234 bird species from 147 countries. Feather Mites typically located inside quills, on the skin, or on downy body Feathers are not included. Data were extracted from 493 published sources dating from 1882 to 2015. Data exploration shows that although most continents and bird families are represented, most bird species remain unexplored for Feather Mites. Nevertheless, this is the most comprehensive data set available for enabling global macroecological analyses of Feather Mites and their hosts, such as ecological network analyses. This metadata file outlines the structure of these data and provides primary references for all records used.
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DNA barcoding and minibarcoding as a powerful tool for Feather mite studies
Molecular Ecology Resources, 2015Co-Authors: Jorge Dona, David Serrano, Sergey Mironov, Javier Diaz-real, Pilar Bazaga, Roger JovaniAbstract:Feather Mites (Astigmata: Analgoidea and Pterolichoidea) are among the most abundant and commonly occurring bird ectosymbionts. Basic questions on the ecology and evolution of Feather Mites remain unanswered because Feather mite species identification is often only possible for adult males, and it is laborious even for specialized taxonomists, thus precluding large-scale identifications. Here, we tested DNA barcoding as a useful molecular tool to identify Feather Mites from passerine birds. Three hundred and sixty-one specimens of 72 species of Feather Mites from 68 species of European passerine birds from Russia and Spain were barcoded. The accuracy of barcoding and minibarcoding was tested. Moreover, threshold choice (a controversial issue in barcoding studies) was also explored in a new way, by calculating through simulations the effect of sampling effort (in species number and species composition) on threshold calculations. We found one 200-bp minibarcode region that showed the same accuracy as the full-length barcode (602 bp) and was surrounded by conserved regions potentially useful for group-specific degenerate primers. Species identification accuracy was perfect (100%) but decreased when singletons or species of the Proctophyllodes pinnatus group were included. In fact, barcoding confirmed previous taxonomic issues within the P. pinnatus group. Following an integrative taxonomy approach, we compared our barcode study with previous taxonomic knowledge on Feather Mites, discovering three new putative cryptic species and validating three previous morphologically different (but still undescribed) new species.
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repeatability of Feather mite prevalence and intensity in passerine birds
PLOS ONE, 2014Co-Authors: David Serrano, Sofia Fernandezgonzalez, Javier Pereztris, Javier Diazreal, Ana Bermejo, Juan Antonio Calleja, Javier De La PuenteAbstract:Understanding why host species differ so much in symbiont loads and how this depends on ecological host and symbiont traits is a major issue in the ecology of symbiosis. A first step in this inquiry is to know whether observed differences among host species are species-specific traits or more related with host-symbiont environmental conditions. Here we analysed the repeatability (R) of the intensity and the prevalence of Feather Mites to partition within- and among-host species variance components. We compiled the largest dataset so far available: 119 Paleartic passerine bird species, 75,944 individual birds, ca. 1.8 million Mites, seven countries, 23 study years. Several analyses and approaches were made to estimate R and adjusted repeatability (Radj) after controlling for potential confounding factors (breeding period, weather, habitat, spatial autocorrelation and researcher identity). The prevalence of Feather Mites was moderately repeatable (R = 0.26–0.53; Radj = 0.32–0.57); smaller values were found for intensity (R = 0.19–0.30; Radj = 0.18–0.30). These moderate repeatabilities show that prevalence and intensity of Feather Mites differ among species, but also that the high variation within species leads to considerable overlap among bird species. Differences in the prevalence and intensity of Feather Mites within bird species were small among habitats, suggesting that local factors are playing a secondary role. However, effects of local climatic conditions were partially observed for intensity.
Sergey Mironov - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Two new Feather mite species (Acari: Analgoidea) from the Tuamotu sandpiper Aechmorhynchus parvirostris (Charadriiformes: Scolopacidae)
2020Co-Authors: Sergey Mironov, Ricardo L. PalmaAbstract:Two new species of analgoid Feather Mites are described from the Tuamotu sandpiper, Aechmorhynchus parvirostris (Peale, 1848), an endemic and endangered wader from the Tuamotu Islands. The new Mites are: Alloptes (Conuralloptes) aechmorhynchi n. sp. (family Alloptidae), and Ingrassia platyspina n. sp. (family Xolalgidae). Brief references to the literature dealing with the taxonomy and diversity of the genera Alloptes Canestrini, 1879 and Ingrassia Oudemans, 1905 are provided.
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two new Feather Mites acari analgoidea isolated from the grey headed woodpecker picus canus piciformes picidae in korea
Systematic & Applied Acarology, 2019Co-Authors: Sergey MironovAbstract:Two new species of Feather Mites from the superfamily Analgoidea are described from the grey-headed woodpecker, Picus canus, in Korea: Neopteronyssus koreanussp. nov. (Pteronyssidae) and Proterothrix picinussp. nov. (Proctophyllodidae: Pterodectinae). Feather Mites of the genera NeopteronyssusMironov, 2002 and ProterothrixGaud, 1968 are described for the first time in Korea. Morphological descriptions of both new species are complemented with partial sequences of their mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) gene as DNA barcodes.
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more than meets the eye cryptic diversity and contrasting patterns of host specificity in Feather Mites inhabiting seabirds
Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 2018Co-Authors: Sergey Mironov, Laura M Stefan, Elena Gomezdiaz, Jacob Gonzalezsolis, Karen D MccoyAbstract:Feather Mites are useful models for studying speciation due to their high diversity and strong degree of host specialization. However, studies to date have focused on the evolution of higher-level mite taxa while much hidden diversity likely occurs at the level of host genera and species. In this study, we examined the diversity and evolution of Feather Mites infesting six sympatric seabird species from six genera, breeding in the Cape Verde archipelago. We report 32 Feather mite morphospecies categorized into ten genera and three families, of which nine correspond to new, undescribed species. Molecular data corroborated morphological species descriptions, except for two morphologically-cryptic, but genetically distinct mite lineages related to Zachvatkinia oceanodromae and Laminalloptes simplex. Using these communities, we then applied a co-structure approach to test the contribution of ectosymbiont and host factors in driving Feather mite evolution. Most seabird species hosted specific and unique Feather mite species, even under sympatric conditions, and in general, Feather mite species exhibited strong host-driven genetic structure. However, patterns of genetic differentiation were variable. That is, some mite species are more generalist than others and mite lineages/haplotypes can be shared by related seabird species. Interestingly, host-specific Mites (eg., Zachvatkinia spp.) tend to display much higher intra-specific diversity compared to more generalist Mites (eg., Microspalax and Plicatalloptes spp.). We discuss ectosymbiont and host life-history traits that might generate these patterns, such as host dispersal and breeding behavior and/or mite spatial and trophic specialization. Our findings highlight both the vast and largely unrecognized diversity of avian Feather Mites on seabirds, and the intrinsic complexity of the ecological processes underlying the evolution of these ectosymbionts.
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>More than meets the eye>: Cryptic diversity and contrasting patterns of host-specificity in Feather Mites inhabiting seabirds
Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution, 2018Co-Authors: Laura M Stefan, Sergey Mironov, Elena Gómez-díaz, Jacob González-solís, Karen D MccoyAbstract:Feather Mites are useful models for studying speciation due to their high diversity and strong degree of host specialization. However, studies to date have focused on the evolution of higher-level mite taxa while much hidden diversity likely occurs at the level of host genera and species. In this study, we examined the diversity and evolution of Feather Mites infesting six sympatric seabird species from six genera, breeding in the Cape Verde archipelago. We report 32 Feather mite morphospecies categorized into ten genera and three families, of which nine correspond to new, undescribed species. Molecular data corroborated morphological species descriptions, except for two morphologically-cryptic, but genetically distinct mite lineages related to Zachvatkinia oceanodromae and Laminalloptes simplex. Using these communities, we then applied a co-structure approach to test the contribution of ectosymbiont and host factors in driving Feather mite evolution. Most seabird species hosted specific and unique Feather mite species, even under sympatric conditions, and in general, Feather mite species exhibited strong host-driven genetic structure. However, patterns of genetic differentiation were variable. That is, some mite species are more generalist than others and mite lineages/haplotypes can be shared by related seabird species. Interestingly, host-specific Mites (eg., Zachvatkinia spp.) tend to display much higher intra-specific diversity compared to more generalist Mites (eg., Microspalax and Plicatalloptes spp.). We discuss ectosymbiont and host life-history traits that might generate these patterns, such as host dispersal and breeding behavior and/or mite spatial and trophic specialization. Our findings highlight both the vast and largely unrecognized diversity of avian Feather Mites on seabirds, and the intrinsic complexity of the ecological processes underlying the evolution of these ectosymbionts.
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captive individuals of endangered philippine raptors maintain native Feather Mites acariformes pterolichoidea species
International journal for parasitology. Parasites and wildlife, 2018Co-Authors: Sergey Mironov, Boris D Efeykin, Jayson C Ibanez, Anna Mae T Sumaya, Oleg TolstenkovAbstract:Abstract Endangered species of hosts are coupled with endangered species of parasites, which share the risk of co-extinction. Conservation efforts sometimes include breeding of rare species in captivity. Data on parasites of captive populations of endangered species is scarce and the ability of small numbers of captive host individuals to support the biodiversity of native parasites is limited. Examination of ectosymbionts of the critically endangered Philippine eagles and the endangered Mindanao Hawk-Eagle kept at the Philippine Eagle Center, Philippines, revealed three Feather mite species despite regular treatment with insecticide powder. No other ectosymbiont taxa were detected. Studies in morphology and molecular phylogeny of these Feather Mites based on mitochondrial and nuclear DNA markers indicate that species found were typical for Accipitridae. Three new pterolichoid Feather mite species (Acari: Pterolichoidea) were described from two species of eagles (Accipitriformes: Accipitridae) endemic to the Philippines: Hieracolichus philippinensis sp. n. (Gabuciniidae) and Pseudalloptinus pithecophagae sp. n. (Pterolichidae) from the Great Philippine Eagle Pithecophaga jefferyi Ogilvie-Grant, 1896, and Pseudogabucinia nisaeti sp. n. (Kramerellidae) from the Mindanao Hawk-Eagle Nisaetus pinskeri Gould, 1863. The presence of H. philippinensis on P. jefferyi supports the recent finding that the Great Philippine Eagle belongs to the lineage of serpent eagles (Circaetinae) rather than to the Harpy and other eagles.
Fábio Akashi Hernandes - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.
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Feather Mites acari astigmata of the zoobotanical state park in teresina brazil
Acarologia, 2019Co-Authors: Maria Marta Lima Alves Moro, Eric Carvalho Waquim, Luanna Soares De Melo Evangelista, Fábio Akashi HernandesAbstract:Feather Mites are the most diverse avian ectoparasites. They mainly live on the plumage of birds, feeding on uropygial oil, and may occasionally cause skin irritation, especially on caged birds. Here we report the results of a survey of Feather Mites on wild birds of the Zoobotanical State Park of Teresina, Piaui, Brazil. The following Mites were collected from seven bird specimens kept in the park from January to July 2017: Pandionacarus fuscus (Nitzsch, 1818) on the osprey (Pandion haliaetus); Freyana dendrocygni Dubinin, 1950 and Heterobrephosceles megathrix Peterson & Atyeo, 1977 on the white-faced whistling-duc (Dendrocygna viduata); Nyctibiolichus megamerus Atyeo, 1979 on the common potoo (Nyctibius griseus); Hieracolichus hirundo (Megnin & Trouessart, 1884) on the harpy eagle (Harpia harpyja) and Hieracolichus sp. on the southern caracara (Caracara plancus). These findings increase the known ranges of the mite species, with four of them reported for the first time in Brazil.
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New records of Feather Mites (Astigmata: Analgidae, Avenzoariidae, Proctophyllodidae) from the blackcap, Saunders’s tern and osprey in Saudi Arabia
International Journal of Acarology, 2019Co-Authors: Mohamed W. Negm, Fábio Akashi Hernandes, Mohamed Nasser, Azzam M. Al Ahmad, Mohammed ShobrakAbstract:ABSTRACTFour Feather Mites – Analges spiniger Giebel, 1871 (Analgidae), Pandionacarus fuscus (Nitzsch, 1818), Zachvatkinia issykkulica Chirov, 1978 (Avenzoariidae), and Proctophyllodes sylviae Gaud...
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new records of Feather Mites astigmata analgidae avenzoariidae proctophyllodidae from the blackcap saunders s tern and osprey in saudi arabia
International Journal of Acarology, 2019Co-Authors: Mohamed W. Negm, Fábio Akashi Hernandes, Mohamed Nasser, Azzam Al M Ahmad, Mohammed ShobrakAbstract:ABSTRACTFour Feather Mites – Analges spiniger Giebel, 1871 (Analgidae), Pandionacarus fuscus (Nitzsch, 1818), Zachvatkinia issykkulica Chirov, 1978 (Avenzoariidae), and Proctophyllodes sylviae Gaud...
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new records of Feather Mites acariformes astigmata from non passerine birds aves in brazil
Check List, 2016Co-Authors: Luiz Gustavo A. Pedroso, Fábio Akashi HernandesAbstract:We present the results of our investigation of Feather Mites (Astigmata) associated with non-passerine birds in Brazil. The studied birds were obtained from roadkills, airport accidents, and from capitivity. Most ectoparasites were collected from bird specimens by washing. A total of 51 non-passerine species from 20 families and 15 orders were examined. Of them, 24 species were assessed for Feather Mites for the first time. In addition, 10 host associations are recorded for the first time in Brazil. A total of 101 Feather mite species were recorded, with 26 of them identified to the species level and 75 likely representing undescribed species; among the latter samples, five probably represent new genera. These records allowed the first inference about the host and mite association of many species, as well as the first discussion about the geographical distribution of some Feather mite taxa along the host distribution.
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Five new Feather Mites of the subfamily Pterodectinae (Acariformes: Astigmata: Proctophyllodidae) from passerines and hummingbirds (Aves) of Brazil
Zootaxa, 2016Co-Authors: Fábio Akashi Hernandes, Luiz Gustavo A. Pedroso, Yoshika Oniki-willisAbstract:Five new species of Feather Mites (Proctophyllodidae: Pterodectinae) are described from passerines and hummingbirds of Brazil: Amerodectes longifuscus sp. nov. from Poospiza lateralis (Nordmann, 1835) (Passeriformes: Emberizidae), A. vireonis sp. nov. from Vireo olivaceus (Linnaeus, 1766) (Passeriformes: Vireonidae), Tyrannidectes synallaxis sp. nov. from Synallaxis ruficapilla Vieillot, 1819 (Passeriformes: Furnariidae), Trochilodectes willisi sp. nov. from Phaethornis eurynome (Lesson, 1832) (Apodiformes: Trochilidae), and Xynonodectes phaethornis sp. nov. from Ph. pretrei (Lesson & Delattre, 1839) (Apodiformes: Trochilidae).
