Tm. Kollars, FACTORS AFFECTING THE DISTRIBUTION OF BOT FLIES (DIPTERA, OESTRIDAE) ON ISLANDS IN LAKE BARKLEY, KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE, Journal of entomological science, 30(4), 1995, pp. 513-518
The present study analyzes the effect of six abiotic and eight biotic
variables on the presence of Cuterebra on islands in Lake Barkley in K
entucky and Tennessee. Abiotic factors were: area, length, distance to
mainland, distance to nearest island, elevation, and last inundation.
Biotic factors were: tree species diversity (sd), shrub sd, vine sd,
and herbaceous sd, percent herbaceous cover, percent tree cover, mamma
l species, and small mammal sd. A Cuterebra, presumably C. fontinella
fontinella (Clark), infested white-footed mice on two islands and hous
e mice on one island. Six other small mammal species were not infested
. There was no significant difference between prevalence and sex of ho
st. No correlation between the presence of Cuterebra and biotic or abi
otic factors was found (P > 0.05). The presence of house mice did not
determine the presence of Cuterebra on islands. Factors associated wit
h island biogeography did not appear to play a role in determining the
presence of Cuterebra. Only the presence of white-footed mice was rel
ated functionally to the presence of Cuterebra on islands (R(2) = 0.85
; P < 0.05). Although other small mammals may be found on islands, the
occurrence and prevalence of C. fontinella on islands was primarily l
imited by the presence of white-footed mice regardless of other abioti
c or biotic factors.