Small Mammal Preparation in UVM's Natural History Museum
Conference Year
2024
Abstract
Natural history museums remain sources of irreplaceable information for species on their parasite composition, diversity, range, abundance, and genetics. Availability of preserved Peromyscus spp. (P. leucopus and P. maniculatus), who are common reservoir hosts for tick-borne pathogens, enables researchers to access information on pathogen prevalence of a species over time. In Vermont, monitoring vector-borne pathogens is important for public health and understanding the northern range expansion of vectors and associated pathogens with climate change. To provide data on tick-borne pathogens, tissues and ectoparasites were collected from Peromyscus spp. bycatch from the Vermont Herpetological Atlas and preserved in the museum.
Primary Faculty Mentor Name
Sara Helms Cahan
Graduate Student Mentors
Lauren Berkley
Status
Undergraduate
Student College
College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
Program/Major
Biological Science
Primary Research Category
Life Sciences
Small Mammal Preparation in UVM's Natural History Museum
Natural history museums remain sources of irreplaceable information for species on their parasite composition, diversity, range, abundance, and genetics. Availability of preserved Peromyscus spp. (P. leucopus and P. maniculatus), who are common reservoir hosts for tick-borne pathogens, enables researchers to access information on pathogen prevalence of a species over time. In Vermont, monitoring vector-borne pathogens is important for public health and understanding the northern range expansion of vectors and associated pathogens with climate change. To provide data on tick-borne pathogens, tissues and ectoparasites were collected from Peromyscus spp. bycatch from the Vermont Herpetological Atlas and preserved in the museum.