Host–habitat relations as an important determinant of spatial distribution of flea assemblages (Siphonaptera) on rodents in the Negev Desert

Abstract

We studied flea assemblages on rodents in different habitats of the Ramon erosion cirque in the Negev Desert to examine whether host-habitat relations influence flea spatial distribution. Eleven flea species parasitizing 12 rodent species were recorded. There was significant positive relationship between flea species richness and body mass of the host species; no relationships were found between relative richness of flea assemblage and either the number of habitats occupied by the host species or the size of host geographical range. The differences in pattern of flea parasitism among habitat types within host species were determined by both environmental features of a habitat and the specific pattern of habitat use by rodents. There was replacement of Xenopsylla conformis by Xenopsylla ramesis on Meriones crassus and Gerbillus dasyurus among different habitats. The results of ordination of the flea collections from each individual host demonstrated that the flea assemblages were segregated mainly along 4 axes, which explained 86% of total variance. Each of the ordination axes corresponded with a change in flea species composition. The directions of these changes were (1) among-hosts within a habitat and (2) among-habitats within a host.

Resource predictability and host specificity in fleas: the effect of host body mass

“…For example, the flea Xenopsylla ramesis parasitizes several host species (mainly gerbils) throughout the Middle East (Lewis and Lewis, 1990 b). However, in some areas Meriones crassus is dropped out of the host spectrum of this flea (Krasnov et al 1997). The reason for this is the unsuitability of microclimatic and substrate conditions in M. crassus burrows for the successful survival of eggs, larvae and newly-emerged imago of X. ramesis .…”

Incidence of plague associated with increased winter-spring precipitation in New Mexico.

“…The ecology of cat fleas, however, differs from that of other flea species that typically transmit plague; e.g., cat fleas lay eggs in more exposed sites instead of rodent burrows, and do not occur in most plague-enzootic areas. While some information exists on flea ecology with respect to mammal host specificity, habitat preferences, and seasonal abundances, [32][33][34][35] we are unaware of any published studies on long-term dynamics of arid-land, plague-carrying flea populations and their relationships with climatic fluctuations; this is clearly an area in need of much additional research. However, if the cat flea model is correct, and fleas have a need for high soil relative humidity to maximize reproduction, we hypothesize that wet periods in arid environments would provide a greater number of microsites meeting the fleas' moisture requirements, and thus would increase flea population sizes during those periods.…”

Immune response to fleas in a wild desert rodent: effect of parasite species, parasite burden, sex of host and host parasitological experience

“…It occupies a variety of habitats and is parasitized naturally by several flea species (Krasnov et al, 1996(Krasnov et al, , 1997Table·1). We used rodents from our laboratory colonies.…”

“…Mammals vary in their flea species richness. For example, among 12 rodent species in the Negev desert, the number of flea species per rodent species ranged between two and eight (Krasnov et al, 1997). Host-dependent and habitat-dependent fleas were distinguished.…”