Would you expect an ectoparasite, such as a bird louse, that lives its entire life on the body of a homeothermic host, to have a broad thermal tolerance? How about mite that lives on the bodies of rattlesnakes?
Damn nature! You scary!
But I got the same problem. I just came across this on Molumby's Problem set and it got me thinking. So the bird louse I first thought would not have a broad temperature tolerance since it's living on the host, but then again, the homeothermic host would be able to withstand a wide variety of temperatures since it stays warm using metabolism. So, I am now going to put that the bird louse CAN withstand a broad thermal tolerance, while the rattlesnakes parasite can't.
To determine whether an ectoparasite, like a bird louse or a mite, would have a broad thermal tolerance, we should consider the characteristics of the host and the environment in which the ectoparasite lives.
An ectoparasite that lives its entire life on the body of a homeothermic host, like a bird louse on a warm-blooded bird or a mite on a rattlesnake, would be exposed to a relatively stable and optimal temperature. Homeothermic hosts maintain a consistent internal body temperature, regardless of changes in the external environment. This provides a more stable thermal environment for the ectoparasite.
Bird lice living on birds would have a relatively narrow thermal tolerance range. Birds typically have a strict body temperature range, which they regulate through physiological processes like metabolism and behavior. The ectoparasite's life history traits and adaptations would align with the stable temperature range of their bird host.
On the other hand, mites that live on the bodies of rattlesnakes may have a broader thermal tolerance. Rattlesnakes are ectothermic, meaning their body temperature is regulated by their external environment. As a result, their body temperature can vary more widely than that of homeothermic animals. The mite must be able to tolerate a range of temperatures and adapt to the varying thermal conditions within the rattlesnake's environment.
In summary, while a bird louse that lives on homeothermic birds would have a narrower thermal tolerance, a mite living on rattlesnakes might exhibit a broader thermal tolerance due to the wider range of temperatures experienced by its ectothermic host.