Date of Award
2018
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science
Department
Biology
Abstract
This study sought to fill these gaps of knowledge ticks as a model species. Based on the known information on the microbiome of vectors, and ticks more specifically, I sought to answer two prominent questions: are there relationships between the microbiome of individual ticks and do ticks from different sexes or life stages have variance in their microbiomes? In reference to my first question, I hypothesized that ticks coming from the same lineage, being the males, 7 Community Structure of the Microbiome of Ixodes scapularis females, and resulting eggs, would have a more similar microbiome to each other than to other ticks and that ticks coming form different geographic locations within Virginia would have variance in their microbiomes. For my second question, I hypothesized that females would have a more diverse and abundant microbiome as a result of their increased blood meal size and frequency and the increased time they spend on their host.
Recommended Citation
Clark, Christopher Lee, "Community structure of the microbiome of ixodes scapularis in relation to sex, stage, lineage, and geography" (2018). Honors Theses. 1303.
https://scholarship.richmond.edu/honors-theses/1303
