32nd Annual Student Research Conference
Cohort Determination of Field Caught Adult Dermacentor variabilis Using Hemoglobin Concentration
Grace L. Steck
Dr. Stephanie Fore, Faculty Mentor
Dermacentor variabilis, the American dog tick, exhibits a three stage life cycle. The ticks hatch as larvae, molt into nymphs, then finally to adults, acquiring a new host in each stage to provide a blood meal for energy requirements. The objective of my study was to determine if the activity of adult D. variabilis can be attributed to two different cohorts, providing information on how long the species takes to complete its life cycle. The hemoglobin content of field caught adult ticks was determined using spectrophotometry to identify the physiological age of the ticks. Though no statistically significant trends in hemoglobin content were found, the data provides preliminary findings in an area of ecology that has many opportunities for future research into this important vector.
Keywords: American dog tick, Dermacentor variabilis, life cycle, hemoglobin, cohort, adult ticks
Topic(s):Biology
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 208-5
Location: MC 209
Time: 11:15