Biodiversity, ecology and evolution of ectoparasites

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Discussion about lice, fleas and ticks typically causes people to cringe with disgust. However, parasites constitute a great proportion of animal species, and have considerable potential to impact fitness and performance in wildlife, domestic animals and humans. When I started my work, there were fewer than 300 species of chewing lice recorded in Canada, many of which were misidentified and associated with incorrect host species. There was little information on infestation parameters. I have recorded more than 300 species of lice from Manitoba, alone, and examined nearly 7000 individual hosts of nearly 300 species. By examining hosts salvaged from wildlife rehabiltation centres, I have compiled a database on host specificity, prevalence and intensity of infestation, sex ratios, and population structure for each species of louse.