Quill mites on bee-eaters

AutorInnen:

Skoracki, M., Kosicki, J.Z., Sikora, B., Töpfer, T., Husek,J., Unsöld, M., Hromada, M.

Erscheinungsjahr:

2021

Vollständiger Titel:

The occurrence of quill mites (Arachnida: Acariformes: Syringophilidae) on bee-eaters (Aves: Coraciiformes: Meropidae: Merops) of two sister clades

ZFMK-Autorinnen / ZFMK-Autoren:

Dr. Till Töpfer

Org. Einordnung:

Ornithologie

Publiziert in:

Animals

Publikationstyp:

Zeitschriftenaufsatz

DOI Name:

https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11123500

Bibliographische Angaben:

Skoracki, M., Kosicki, J.Z., Sikora, B., Töpfer, T., Husek,J., Unsöld, M., Hromada, M. (2021): The occurrence of quill mites (Arachnida: Acariformes: Syringophilidae) on bee-eaters (Aves: Coraciiformes: Meropidae: Merops) of two sister clades. - Animals 11, 3500: 1-12.

Abstract:

Parasitic mites of the family Syringophilidae (quill mites) represent the most diverse prostigmatan family associated with birds. Here, we aim (i) to investigate quill mites of a well-defined monophyletic clade of nine bee-eater species, containing mostly migratory African and Asian species; (ii) to establish ectoparasite geographic ranges; and (iii) to discuss patterns of host-parasite relationships and possible host-switches. We have found that despite quill mites being highly specific on the host species or genus level, host-switches may occur, particularly when the ecology of host species overlaps.