Feather mites play a role in cleaning host feathers: New insights from DNA metabarcoding and microscopy
Parasites and other symbionts are crucial components of ecosystems, regulating host
populations and supporting food webs. However, most symbiont systems, especially those …
populations and supporting food webs. However, most symbiont systems, especially those …
Dispersal-limited symbionts exhibit unexpectedly wide variation in host specificity
A fundamental aspect of symbiotic relationships is host specificity, ranging from extreme
specialists associated with only a single host species to generalists associated with many …
specialists associated with only a single host species to generalists associated with many …
Cophylogenetic analyses reveal extensive host-shift speciation in a highly specialized and host-specific symbiont system
Host-shift speciation and cospeciation are the two major processes driving symbiont
macroevolutionary diversification. Cospeciation is expected to be frequent in vertically …
macroevolutionary diversification. Cospeciation is expected to be frequent in vertically …
Human follicular mites: Ectoparasites becoming symbionts
G Smith, A Manzano-Marín… - Molecular Biology …, 2022 - academic.oup.com
Most humans carry mites in the hair follicles of their skin for their entire lives. Follicular mites
are the only metazoans that continuously live on humans. We propose that Demodex …
are the only metazoans that continuously live on humans. We propose that Demodex …
[HTML][HTML] Prelude to a study of the feather mites of Australia (Acariformes: Astigmata)
RB Halliday - Zootaxa, 2023 - mapress.com
This paper reviews the state of knowledge of the feather mites of Australia (Arachnida:
Acariformes: Astigmata). The known fauna includes 149 species arranged in 95 genera and …
Acariformes: Astigmata). The known fauna includes 149 species arranged in 95 genera and …
Host specificity, infrequent major host switching and the diversification of highly host‐specific symbionts: The case of vane‐dwelling feather mites
Aim Highly host‐specific symbionts are very rarely found except with their typical host
species. Although switches to new hosts are rare and difficult to detect, a switch to a host …
species. Although switches to new hosts are rare and difficult to detect, a switch to a host …
Cophylogenetic assessment of New World warblers (Parulidae) and their symbiotic feather mites (Proctophyllodidae)
Host–symbiont relationships are ubiquitous in nature, yet evolutionary and ecological
processes that shape these intricate associations are often poorly understood. All orders of …
processes that shape these intricate associations are often poorly understood. All orders of …
Unexpected bird–feather mite associations revealed by DNA metabarcoding uncovers a dynamic ecoevolutionary scenario
The high relevance of host‐switching for the diversification of highly host‐specific symbionts
(ie, those commonly inhabiting a single host species) demands a better understanding of …
(ie, those commonly inhabiting a single host species) demands a better understanding of …
Novel insights into symbiont population structure: Globe‐trotting avian feather mites contradict the specialist–generalist variation hypothesis
Researchers often examine symbiont host specificity as a species‐level pattern, but it can
also be key to understanding processes occurring at the population level, which are not as …
also be key to understanding processes occurring at the population level, which are not as …
Horizontal transmission maintains host specificity and codiversification of symbionts in a brood parasitic host
LGA Pedroso, PB Klimov, SV Mironov… - Communications …, 2023 - nature.com
In host-symbiont systems, interspecific transmissions create opportunities for host switches,
potentially leading to cophylogenetic incongruence. In contrast, conspecific transmissions …
potentially leading to cophylogenetic incongruence. In contrast, conspecific transmissions …