Promiscuous specialists: Host specificity patterns among generalist louse flies.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Lehikoinen A
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8158981 | biostudies-literature | 2021
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Publications
Promiscuous specialists: Host specificity patterns among generalist louse flies.
Lehikoinen Aleksi A Pohjola Pekka P Valkama Jari J Mutanen Marko M Pohjoismäki Jaakko L O JLO
PloS one 20210527 5
Ectoparasites such as louse flies (Diptera: Hippoboscidae) have tendency for host specialization, which is driven by adaptation to host biology as well as competition avoidance between parasites of the same host. However, some louse fly species, especially in genera attacking birds, show wide range of suitable hosts. In the presented study, we have surveyed the current status of bird specific louse flies in Finland to provide comprehensive host association data to analyse the ecological requirem ...[more]
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