The San Miguel island fox has declined from a high of 650 adult foxes in 2015 to an estimated 160 adults in 2018. The rapid population decrease coincides with the identification of the acanthocephalan parasite Prosthenorchis sp. in 2012. Before that time, researchers had never detected this parasite on the California Channel Islands, including San Miguel island. Researchers will assess the extent to which Prosthenorchis sp. has caused the fox population to plummet while determining the best approaches to control the parasite and reduce the likelihood of extinction of the San Miguel Island Fox.
Study ID
D21ZO-407
Study Status
Active
Start Date
09/01/2021
Grant amount awarded
$119,978
Grant recipient
University of Notre Dame
Study country
United States
Investigator
O. Alejandro Aleuy, DVM, PhD
Study category
General Health