Fragmented host distribution and trombiculid parasitic load: Eutrombicula araucanensis and Liolaemus pictus in Chile

摘要: Habitat fragmentation produced by human impacts can generate changes in the distribution and abundance of populations across their geographic ranges. The chigger mites are ectoparasites that widely distributed on a wide range species. depends characteristics host habitat where said species is found. As highly dependent environmental factors, good study models to test geographical patterns. main objective this was determine variation Eutrombicula araucanensis, parasite Liolaemus pictus, testing three hypotheses: abundant centre hypothesis, optimum hypothesis latitudinal pattern. For purpose, from 147 individuals 23 localities along L. pictus were extracted. evaluated present not adequate represent structure parasitic pictus. No association between distance area greatest relative intensity, or with mite’s observed. In addition, no pattern Temperate forest may influence population density mites, each patch having different optimal conditions for development. heterogeneity makes it difficult find clear