Ecological epidemiology of an invasive host generalist parasite, Dicrocoelium dendriticum, in Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, Alberta

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dc.contributor.authorBeck, Melissa A.
dc.contributor.authorUniversity of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science
dc.contributor.supervisorGoater, Cameron P.
dc.date.accessioned2015-12-17T19:35:22Z
dc.date.available2015-12-17T19:35:22Z
dc.date.issued2015
dc.degree.levelPh.Den_US
dc.description.abstractInnate variability in parasite transmission is one of the hallmarks of the phenomenon of parasitism. Empirical research aimed at quantifying these differences is limited, particularly for generalist parasites that utilize a broad range of sympatric hosts. Using an ecological epidemiological approach, I characterized variability in transmission of an emerging host generalist parasite, Dicrocoelium dendriticum, in Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, Alberta. ‘Hotspots’ for ant-to-ungulate transmission were characterized by the presence of aspen (Populus tremuloides) trees on moderately graded, south, or east facing slopes at elevation > 1300m. Individual fluke performance and per capita fecundity were approximately equal among naturally-infected elk and experimentally-infected sheep and cattle. However, when these data were combined with host population size and host residency time in CHP, the sub-population of roughly 4000 cow/calves that are pastured in CHP contribute approximately 80% of the estimated 300 billion eggs that contaminate pasture each year.en_US
dc.description.sponsorshipBeef Cattle Research Council: Grant no. 2008F064; Feedlot Health Management Services: Grant no. FHMS-1039; Alberta Livestock and Meat Agency Ltd.: Grant no. 2011R041R; the Agriculture Funding Consortium: Grant no. AB-0450; Agriculture and Agri-food Canada: Grant no. RBP-842; National Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada; Grant no. 40130; The Alberta Conservation Association Grant in Biodiversity; Zoetisen_US
dc.embargoNoen_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10133/3842
dc.language.isoen_CAen_US
dc.proquest.subject0718
dc.proquest.subject0766
dc.proquest.subject0370
dc.proquestyesYesen_US
dc.publisherLethbridge, Alta: University of Lethbridge, Dept. of Biological Sciences.
dc.publisher.departmentDepartment of Biological Sciencesen_US
dc.publisher.facultyArts and Scienceen_US
dc.relation.ispartofseriesThesis (University of Lethbridge. Faculty of Arts and Science)
dc.subjectant-to-ungulate transmission
dc.subjectenvironmental factors
dc.subjectGIS-based analysis
dc.subjecthost-specific factors
dc.subjectparasite distribution
dc.subjectparasite spill-over
dc.titleEcological epidemiology of an invasive host generalist parasite, Dicrocoelium dendriticum, in Cypress Hills Interprovincial Park, Albertaen_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
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