Variation in the Abundance of Ectoparasites of Formosan Mouse-Eared Bat (Myotis taiwanensis) in Wanluan Area

• Main Authors: Hung-yu Wang, 王鴻毓
• Other Authors: Hsueh-Wen Chang
• Format: Others
• Language: en_US
• Published: 2014
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/05087632790143601866

碩士 === 國立中山大學 === 生物科學系研究所 === 102 === A parasite is an organism that gobtains nutrients from feeding on host''s blood or other body fluids, usually it does not kill its host. The sex, reproductive status, or behavior of hosts are potential factors that might affect the host selection of the parasites. The ectoparasites of Formosan mouse-eared bats (Myotis taiwanensis) have not been investigated. The aims of this study were to identify the ectoparasite species of Formosan mouse-eared bats, and to investigate whether sex, age or reproductive status of the hosts and seasons would affect the host preferences of ectoparasites. The ectoparasitic abundance on Formosan mouse-eared bats was studied in a water tunnel in Wanluan area, Pingtung County from November 2012 to October 2013. More than 30 bats were collected by hand nets and checked for the ectoparasites every month. A total of 3245 ectoparasites of eight species were collected from 343 Formosan mouse-eared bats. Two groups of ectoparasites were identified: four species of bat flies (Nycteribia allotopa mikado, N. formosana, Penicillidia dufourii tainani and P. jenynsi) and four species of blood-sucking mites (Spinturnix bakeri, S. myoti, S. verutus and S. sp.). Sexual dimorphism was identified in both forearm length and body mass of M. taiwanensis, where adult females was larger than males. The abundance of ectoparasites varied seasonally, with the highest in spring and the lowest in autumn. Three of the blood-sucking mites showed stronger preferences for the female than male hosts. Differences in ectoparasitic abundance between adult and juvenile bats were only found in that of Spinturnix myoti. The reproductive status of female bats significant effects on the host preferences of Nycteribia formosana.