Species Abundance Distribution of Ectoparasites on Norway Rats (Rattus norvegicus) from a Localized Area in Southwest China.
BACKGROUND
The species of ectoparasites that live on a specific host in a geographical region form an ectoparasite community. Species abundance distributions describe the number of individuals observed for each different species that is encountered within a community. Based on properties of the species abundance distribution, the expected total number of species present in the community can be estimated.


METHODS
Preston's lognormal distribution model was used to fit the expected species abundance distribution curve. Using the expected species abundance distribution curve, we estimated the total number of expected parasite species present and the amount of species that were likely missed by our sampling in the field.


RESULTS
In total, 8040 ectoparasites (fleas, sucking lice, gamasid mites and chigger mites) were collected from 431 Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) from a localized area in southwest China. These ectoparasites were identified to be 47 species from 26 genera in 10 families. The majority of ectoparasite species were chigger mites (family Trombiculidae) while the majority of individuals were sucking lice in the family Polyplacidae. The expected species abundance distribution curve demonstrated the classic pattern that the majority of ectoparasite species were rare and that there were a few common species. The total expected number of ectoparasite species on R. norvegicus was estimated to be 85 species, and 38 species were likely missed by our sampling in the field.


CONCLUSIONS
Norway rats harbor a large suite of ectoparasites. Future field investigations should sample large numbers of host individuals to assess ectoparasite populations.
Vector Laboratory, Institute of Pathogens and Vectors, Dali University (Branch of Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention), Dali, Yunnan, China.
Xian Guo
XG
Guo
Vector Laboratory, Institute of Pathogens and Vectors, Dali University (Branch of Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention), Dali, Yunnan, China.
Wen Ge
WG
Dong
Institute of Plant Protection, Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Jinan, China.
Xing Yuan
XY
Men
Vector Laboratory, Institute of Pathogens and Vectors, Dali University (Branch of Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention), Dali, Yunnan, China.
Ti Jun
TJ
Qian
Vector Laboratory, Institute of Pathogens and Vectors, Dali University (Branch of Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention), Dali, Yunnan, China.
Dian
D
Wu
Vector Laboratory, Institute of Pathogens and Vectors, Dali University (Branch of Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention), Dali, Yunnan, China.
Tian Guang
TG
Ren
Vector Laboratory, Institute of Pathogens and Vectors, Dali University (Branch of Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention), Dali, Yunnan, China.
Feng
F
Qin
Vector Laboratory, Institute of Pathogens and Vectors, Dali University (Branch of Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention), Dali, Yunnan, China.
Wen Yu
WY
Song
Vector Laboratory, Institute of Pathogens and Vectors, Dali University (Branch of Yunnan Provincial Key Laboratory for Zoonosis Control and Prevention), Dali, Yunnan, China.
Zhi Hua
ZH
Yang
Département de Biologie, Chimie et Géographie, Université du Québec à Rimouski, Rimouski, Canada.
Quinn E
QE
Fletcher
Ectoparasite; Expected species estimation; Norway rat; Rattus norvegicus; Species abundance distribution