New publication on woodrats, parasites, microbiome

Sara and Maggie have published their work studying the parasites and microbiome of cactus-feeding white-throated woodrats (Neotoma albigula) in Castle Valley, UT. After a few days eating only cactus, woodrats sampled in spring showed microbiome differences based on pinworm infection, while woodrats in the fall group showed no pinworm-associated microbiome differences. The microbiome is responsible for degradation of dietary fiber and the plant toxin oxalate, which are both prevalent in cactus. To read more about this work, you can find this Doolin et al. publication in the Journal of Parasitology. Link to it!

N. albigula in front of their food plant, Opuntia cactus.