Dean E. Biggins
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Trophic Transfer of Fipronil Residues to Black-footed Ferrets: Implications for Flea Control and Plague Mitigation Open
Sylvatic plague, caused by the flea-borne bacterium Yersinia pestis, is an invasive disease in North America that causes reductions of native fauna and transforms ecosystems. Fipronil baits have shown promise in reducing flea loads on prai…
View article: Coyote use of prairie dog colonies is most frequent in areas used by American badgers
Coyote use of prairie dog colonies is most frequent in areas used by American badgers Open
The consequences of intraguild predation on vulnerable subordinate species are an important consideration in the recovery of endangered species. In prairie ecosystems, coyotes (Canis latrans) are the primary predator of endangered black-fo…
Prey selection by black-footed ferrets (<i>Mustela nigripes</i>): implications for intersexual resource partitioning and conservation Open
Intraspecific resource partitioning may play a critical role in how predators optimize prey selection. The Black-footed Ferret (Mustela nigripes; henceforth, ferret) is a highly specialized predator of prairie dogs (Cynomys spp.; hencefort…
Prairie dog responses to vector control and vaccination during an initial Yersinia pestis invasion Open
We evaluated the invasion of plague bacteria Yersinia pestis into a population of black-tailed prairie dogs (Cynomys ludovicianus; BTPDs) in South Dakota. We aimed to ascertain if Y. pestis invaded slowly or rapidly, and to determine if ve…
Alternative lifestyles: A plague persistence hypothesis Open
Several explanations have been posited for how the plague bacterium ( Yersinia pestis ) reemerges during sylvatic cycles within the same foci over many years, and often without direct evidence of host die‐offs. One prevalent view is that t…
FLEA CONTROL ON PRAIRIE DOGS (CYNOMYS SPP.) WITH FIPRONIL BAIT PELLETS: POTENTIAL PLAGUE MITIGATION TOOL FOR RAPID FIELD APPLICATION AND WILDLIFE CONSERVATION Open
Sylvatic plague is a widespread, primarily flea-vectored disease in western North America. Because plague is highly lethal to endangered black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes, BFFs) and the prairie dogs (Cynomys spp., PDs) on which BFFs d…
LETHAL EFFECTS ON FLEA LARVAE OF FIPRONIL IN HOST FECES: POTENTIAL BENEFITS FOR PLAGUE MITIGATION Open
Plague, caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis, is a zoonotic disease of mammalian hosts and flea vectors. Fipronil baits have been used to suppress adult fleas for plague mitigation. The degree and duration of flea control may increase i…
Estimating parasite infrapopulation size given imperfect detection: Proof-of-concept with ectoparasitic fleas on prairie dogs Open
Parasite infrapopulation size - the population of parasites affecting a single host - is a central metric in parasitology. However, parasites are small and elusive such that imperfect detection is expected. Repeated sampling of parasites d…
Plague and Trace Metals in Natural Systems Open
All pathogenic organisms are exposed to abiotic influences such as the microclimates and chemical constituents of their environments. Even those pathogens that exist primarily within their hosts or vectors can be influenced directly or ind…
Assembling a safe and effective toolbox for integrated flea control and plague mitigation: Fipronil experiments with prairie dogs Open
Background Plague, a widely distributed zoonotic disease of mammalian hosts and flea vectors, poses a significant risk to ecosystems throughout much of Earth. Conservation biologists use insecticides for flea control and plague mitigation.…
Plague circulation in small mammals elevates extinction risk for the endangered Peñasco least chipmunk Open
Wildlife diseases are a major concern for species survival around the world. Vector-borne diseases, in particular, are problematic for both humans and wildlife. Plague is an introduced disease to North America where many species have low n…
Deltamethrin reduces survival of non-target small mammals Open
Context Vector-borne diseases have caused global pandemics and were responsible for more human deaths than all other causes combined in prior centuries. In the past 60 years, prevention and control programs have helped reduce human mortali…
Reevaluation of the Role of Blocked <i>Oropsylla hirsuta</i> Prairie Dog Fleas (Siphonaptera: Ceratophyllidae) in <i>Yersinia pestis</i> (Enterobacterales: Enterobacteriaceae) Transmission Open
Prairie dogs in the western United States experience periodic epizootics of plague, caused by the flea-borne bacterial pathogen Yersinia pestis. An early study indicated that Oropsylla hirsuta (Baker), often the most abundant prairie dog f…
Oral Sylvatic Plague Vaccine Does Not Adequately Protect Prairie Dogs ( <i>Cynomys</i> spp.) for Endangered Black-Footed Ferret ( <i>Mustela nigripes</i> ) Conservation Open
The plague bacterium Yersinia pestis is lethal to endangered black-footed ferrets (Mustela nigripes, BFF) and the prairie dogs (Cynomys spp., PD) on which they depend for habitat and prey. We assessed the effectiveness of an oral sylvatic …
Utah prairie dog population dynamics on the Awapa Plateau: precipitation, elevation, and plague Open
Utah prairie dogs (UPDs, Cynomys parvidens) are colonial, herbivorous rodents listed under the Endangered Species Act as threatened. Little is known about UPD population dynamics at higher elevations in the species’ range. From 2013 throug…
Impact of Enzootic Plague on a Population of Mexican Woodrats Open
Photo 1: Our controlled study of plague utilized capture–recapture to estimate survival rates of Mexican woodrats (Neotoma mexicana) in four groups comprising all combinations of vaccination, vector control, and no treatment. Photo credit:…
Enzootic plague reduces survival of Mexican woodrats (<i>Neotoma mexicana</i>) in Colorado Open
Plague is a flea‐vectored disease introduced to North America c. 1900. It is lethal to many American mammal species, causes major die‐offs (epizootics) in some populations, and may be ecologically disruptive even at lower interepizootic (e…
Prairie Dogs as Ferret Food: Ecology, Physiology and Seasonality as Critical Factors Impacting Nutrient Profiles Open
Photo 1: Endangered black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes), a specialist prairie dog predator (center), and its two primary food sources: the black-tailed prairie dog (Cynomys ludovicianus), a year-round preferred prey (left), and the whit…
Insect Pathogenic Fungi for Biocontrol of Plague Vector Fleas: A Review Open
Bubonic plague is a lethal bacterial disease of great historical importance. The plague organism, Yersinia pestis, is primarily transmitted by fleas (Siphonaptera). In natural settings, where its range expands, Y. pestis resides in associa…
Environmental and prey‐based factors underpinning variability in prairie dogs eaten by black‐footed ferrets Open
The endangered black‐footed ferret ( Mustela nigripis ) has been the focus of intensive captive breeding and reintroduction projects for several decades. To better understand nutritional provision during captivity, primary prey items (prai…
Managing plague on prairie dog colonies: insecticides as ectoparasiticides Open
Human health practitioners and wildlife biologists use insecticides to manage plague by suppressing fleas (Siphonaptera), but insecticides can also kill other ectoparasites. We investigated effects of deltamethrin and fipronil on ectoparas…
Flea sharing among sympatric rodent hosts: implications for potential plague effects on a threatened sciurid Open
For vector‐borne diseases, the abundance and competency of different vector species and their host preferences will impact the transfer of pathogens among hosts. Sylvatic plague is a lethal disease caused by the primarily flea‐borne bacter…
Plague management of prairie dog colonies: degree and duration of deltamethrin flea control Open
Plague is a flea-borne disease of mammalian hosts. On the grasslands of western North America, plague stifles populations of Cynomys spp. prairie dogs (PDs). To manage plague, PD burrows are treated with 0.05% deltamethrin dust that can su…
Prairie Dogs, Persistent Plague, Flocking Fleas, and Pernicious Positive Feedback Open
Plague (caused by the bacterium Yersinia pestis) is a deadly flea-borne disease that remains a threat to public health nearly worldwide and is particularly disruptive ecologically where it has been introduced. We review hypotheses regardin…
RESISTANCE TO DELTAMETHRIN IN PRAIRIE DOG (CYNOMYS LUDOVICIANUS) FLEAS IN THE FIELD AND IN THE LABORATORY Open
Sylvatic plague poses a substantial risk to black-tailed prairie dogs ( Cynomys ludovicianus) and their obligate predator, the black-footed ferret ( Mustela nigripes). The effects of plague on prairie dogs and ferrets are mitigated using a…
Occurrence of plague epizootics in colonies of black-tailed prairie dogs, Pawnee National Grassland, Colorado, 1982-2005 Open
Data on the occurrence of plague epizootics in colonies of black-tailed prairie dogs, Pawnee National Grassland, Colorado 1982-2005. Data are derived from annual prairie dog surveys conducted by staff of the Pawnee National Grassland, U.S.…