Title

Blood parasite infection in mice from cloud forest and nearby disturbed habitats

Alternative Title

Infección de hemoparásitos en los ratones del bosque nuboso y cerca de los hábitats perturbados

Creator

Jesse A. Blumenstock

Files

Publication Date

December 2006

Abstract

Conversion of habitat by humans is pervasive, increasing, and the root of serious environmental problems. This study was performed to find differences in blood parasite infections of host mice in neotropical cloud forest versus nearby disturbed habitat. In Monteverde, Costa Rica, mice were trapped and examined for blood parasite species richness and abundance in primary forest and disturbed areas near houses. Twenty-eight mice were captured: 15 from the forest and 13 from the disturbed habitats. Eighty-six percent of these mice were of the species Peromyscus nudipes. There was no significant difference of parasite species richness between mice from the forest habitat (mean = 2.818 ± 1.25; N = 11) and disturbed habitat (mean = 3.25 ± 0.75; N = 12)(Mann-Whitney U = 54.5; P > 0.05) or of parasite abundance between the forest habitat (mean = 8.36 ± 5.12; N = 11) and disturbed habitat (mean = 10.33 ± 5.02; N = 12) (Mann-Whitney U = 57.0; P > 0.05). Transference between the habitats may be frequent, causing similarities in parasite infection rates and types between the populations. Peromyscus nudipes is a “weedy” species and possibly does not discern between the different areas, resulting in this transference.

Resumen

Este estudio se realizó para encontrar diferencias en las infecciones de hemoparásitos en la sangre de los ratones hospederos en los bosques nubosos neotropicales versus el hábitat perturbado cercano.

Keywords

Mice, Blood--Parasites, Environmental impact analysis, CIEE Fall 2006

Palabras claves

Ratones, Sangre--Parásitos, Análisis de impacto ambiental, CIEE Otoño 2006

Extent

10 pages

Geographic Location

Monteverde (Puntarenas, Costa Rica)

Holding Location

Monteverde Institute

Language

English; Spanish

Media Type

Articles

Format

Digital Only

Identifier

M39-00348

Type

Book

Recommended Citation

Blumenstock, Jesse A., "Blood parasite infection in mice from cloud forest and nearby disturbed habitats" (2006). Tropical Ecology and Conservation [Monteverde Institute]. 55.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/tropical_ecology/55