Parasites are an incredibly diverse assemblage of organisms that infest a diverse assemblage of hosts. Yet, most parasites are specialized. Most parasites have unique adaptations that allow them to competitively and efficiently exploit a specific host. Still, even highly specialized, host specific, parasites occasionally switch to new host species. A successful host switch requires that the parasite disperse to and establish (survive and reproduce) on the new host species. My thesis work focused on ecological factors influencing parasite establishment using doves (Columbiformes) and their host specific feather lice (Phthiraptera: Ischnocera) as a study system. In a series of transfer experiments I showed that host size influences parasite establishment. Lice are able to establish on novel host species that are similar in size to their native host. In contrast, lice cannot establish on smaller or larger novel hosts. Why? While lice are able to feed on and remain attached to feathers from a wide variety host sizes, lice are unable to escape from host defense on smaller novel hosts. Consequently, lice cannot establish on smaller novel host species. On large novel host species, lice move more slowly. Slowed locomotion may increase energetic costs and may decrease the ability of a louse to find and compete for food, mates, or ovipositioning sites, thus preventing establishment on larger novel hosts.

Future Directions
The fauna of southern China is incredibly diverse, including many endemic animals, yet this area has received little scientific attention. This region is under increasing pressure to convert remaining wildlife habitat over to agriculture. Given this pressure, faunal surveys of the area are urgent. I am working with Dr. A. T. Peterson at the University of Kansas, Museum of Natural History, on a biotic inventory of the fauna of southern borderlands of China. The vertebrates in southern China are being surveyed by ornithologists, mammologists, herpetologists. All of these vertebrates are commonly infested by parasites such as: fleas, flies, lice, ticks, mites, cestodes, nematodes, trematodes, hematazoa, and coccidia. Specifically, I am working with biologists that specialize on each of these groups of parasites to create a faunal survey of the parasites of southern China.

Sarah E. Bush --Publications

16. Peterson, A. T., T. Brooks, A. Gamauf, J. C. T. Gonzalez, N. A. D. Mallari, G. Dutson, S. E. Bush, D. H. Clayton and R. Fernandez.  In press. The avifauna of Mt. Kitanglad, Bukidnon Province, Mindanao, Philippines.  Fieldiana Zoology.

15. Bush, S.E. and D.H. Clayton. 2006. The role of body size in host specificity: Reciprocal transfer experiments with feather lice. Evolution 60:2158-2167. 

14. Goates, B.M., J.S. Atkin, K.G. Wilding, K.J. Birch, M.R. Cottam, S.E. Bush and D.H. Clayton. 2006. An effective non-chemical treatment for head lice: A lot of hot air. Pediatrics. 118:1962-1970.

13. Bush, S. E., and R. D. Price. 2006. Reconsideration of the longiceps species group of the feather louse genus Columbicola (Phthiraptera: Philopteridae) with descriptions of two new species. Journal of Parasitology. 92:949-952.

12. Robbins, R.G. and S.E. Bush. 2006. First report of Amblyomma papuanum Hirst (Acari: Ixodida: Ixodidae) from the dwarf cassowary, Casuarius bennetti Gould (Aves: Struthioniformes: Casuariidae), with additional records of parasitism of Casuarius spp. by this tick. Proceedings of the Entomological Society of Washington. 108(4): 1002-1004.

11. Price, R.D., D.C. Arnold and S.E. Bush. 2006. Five new species of Myrsidea (Phthiraptera: Menoponidae) from Asian Babblers (Passeriformes: Timaliidae). Journal of the Kansas Entomological Society. 79:369-377.

10. Hastriter, M.W. and S.E. Bush. 2006. Maabella gen. nov. (Streblidae: Ascodipterinae) from Guangxi Province, China and Vietnam with notes on preservation of Ascodipterinae. Zootaxa. 1176:27-40.

9. Bush, S. E., D. Kim, J. Lever, B. R. Moyer and D. H. Clayton. 2006. Is melanin a defense against feather-feeding lice?   The Auk. 123:153-161.

8. Bush, S. E., E. Sohn and D. H. Clayton. 2006. Ecomorphology of parasite attachment: experiments with feather lice.  Journal of Parasitology.  92:25-31.

7. Clayton, D. H., B. R. Moyer, S. E. Bush, D. Gardiner, B. Rhodes, T. Jones and F. Goller.  2005.  Adaptive significance of avian beak morphology for ectoparasite control. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London: B. 272: 811-817.

6. Johnson, K.P., S.E. Bush, D.H. Clayton. 2005.  Correlated evolution of host and parasite body size: tests of Harrison’s rule using birds and lice.  Evolution  59: 1744-1753.

5. Price, J. J., K. P. Johnson, S. E. Bush, and D. H. Clayton. 2005.  Phylogenetic relationships of the Papuan Swiftlet Aerodramus papuensis and implications for the evolution of avian echolocation. Ibis 147: 790-796.

4. Bush, S. E.  2004. Evolutionary Ecology of Host Specificity in Columbiform Feather Lice.  Ph.D. Thesis, Department of Biology, Univ. of Utah, xvi+275pp.

3. Clayton, D. H., S. E. Bush and K. P. Johnson.  2004.  Ecology of congruence:  Past meets present.  Systematic Biology 53:165-173.

2. Clayton, D. H,  S. E. Al-Tamimi (Bush), and K. P. Johnson. 2003. The ecological basis of coevolutionary history. Pp. 310-341 in R. D. M. Page (ed.) Tangled Trees: phylogeny, cospeciation, and coevolution.  Univ. of Chicago Press.

1. Clayton, D. H., S. E. Bush, B. M. Goates and K. P. Johnson.  2003.  Host defense reinforces host-parasite cospeciation.  Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 100:15694-99.
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