Niche changes between parasite populations: An example from ticks on reptiles

Abstract

Two Australian tick species Aponomma hydrosauri and Amblyomma albolimbatum have the same major host species, the lizard Trachydosaurus rugosus. While females of Amb. albolimbatum are most often attached in the ears and on the neck of their hosts, Ap. hydrosauri females prefer to attach further back, under the forearms and on the back. Males show the same interspecific difference but there is also a difference between populations. Ap. hydrosauri males from populations in contact with Amb. albolimbatum attach more often in posterior positions than Ap. hydrosauri males from populations isolated from Amb. albolimbatum. These differences were found in both field populations and laboratory reared ticks. Phylogenetic evidence suggests that the change in male attachment site between Ap. hydrosauri populations followed the colonization of T. rugosus. We propose that the most likely reason for the change of attachment sites has been interspecific interactions with Amb. albolimbatum and that competition has been for space for efficient reception of female signals.