Eugregarines Parasitizing Mandibulate Arthropods of the Texas Big Thicket
Tamara J. Cook, Associate Professor

My research focuses on taxonomic survey and host-parasite relationships of eugregarine parasites of insects. Eugregarines are a diverse group of small, intestinal parasites of insects and other invertebrates. Conservative estimates place their diversity at over 1 million species. Insect/gregarine systems should be excellent models for investigating questions of parasite effects on host fitness, competitive ability and behavior. However, despite the predicted diversity in the group, <1500 species have been described and no developed knowledge base exists for these extremely common parasites. My immediate research interests in this group are taxonomic, and with two colleagues have initiated a survey of eugregarines parasitizing aquatic insects in the Texas Big Thicket. REU projects will focus on using field survey and reciprocal cross infection studies to identify taxic diversity and host range.

For more information on this REU opportunity, please e-mail Dr. Cook at bio_tjc@shsu.edu.