Ecology of invasion through the identification and quantifying of parasites in Abert’s squirrels and endangered Mt. Graham red squirrels

Invasive species are among the leading global threats to native wildlife and are a factor in the decline of 42 percent of threatened and endangered species. Invasive species can influence the ecosystem health through parasite loads that they introduce during establishment in new areas. There is little understanding of parasite loads between invaders and imperiled endemic species, including Abert's and Mt Graham Red Squirrels; we will identify and quantify parasites in this important system. From the study, we hope to gain a better insight into possible parasite transmission routes and the role that parasites play in biological invasion.