Meeting Abstract
P2.137 Wednesday, Jan. 5 An integrative assessment of snake parasitism across an urban-rural gradient JOHNSON, A.*; GRISHAM, M.; KHAN, A.; BOYLE, S.; LUQUE, L.; DAVIS, J.; Rhodes College, Memphis, TN johal@rhodes.edu
Parasitism is one of the most widespread and successful life history strategies known. Parasites are ecologically significant and may influence community structure through a variety of interactions. Notably, the ecological interactions of parasites in snakes (widespread vertebrates) are largely unknown. We integrated histology, molecular techniques, and geographic information science (GIS) to test the hypothesis that parasitism of snakes varies across an urban-rural gradient. Specifically, we identified snake species and sex, measured mass and length, and collected GPS coordinates, ectoparasites, and blood and fecal samples from 55 individuals of 10 species. We confirmed parasite species by amplifying the parasite’s mitochrondrial cytochrome B gene, and then sequencing the isolate. We analyzed stained blood smears by microscopy and quantified immature:mature erythrocyte and heterophil:lymphocyte ratios and parasite prevalence and load. We used fecal floats to extract parasites and their ova from samples and determined parasite prevalence by microscopy. We compared blood parasite prevalence and load as well as ecto- and fecal parasite prevalence among snake species and between sexes. We also determined whether parasite loads or prevalence and snake body condition are correlated. Finally, we used GIS to assess land cover at, and surrounding, each study site to determine whether variable levels of urbanization affect parasite loads or prevalence. Because of the crucial links between parasites, their hosts and ecosystems, parasites have been used extensively as bio-indicators of environmental impact. Our results provide an integrative assessment of snake-hosted parasite ecology that will be useful when evaluating the utility of these parasites as bio-indicators of environmental impact on snakes.
