Chigger mite (Eutrombicula alfreddugesi ) ectoparasitism does not contribute to sex differences in growth rate in eastern fence lizards (Sceloporus undulatus )

Hailey Conrad^1,2* , Nicholas B. Pollock^3,4,5* , Henry John-Alder^1,6

¹ Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, USA

² Present Address: Department of Biological Sciences, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA

³ Graduate Program in Ecology and Evolution, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey 08901, USA

⁴ Present Address: Department of Biology, University of Texas Arlington, Arlington, Texas 76019, USA

⁵ Corresponding Author E-mail: nicholas.pollock@uta.edu

⁶ Rutgers Pinelands Field Station, Rutgers University, New Lisbon, New Jersey 08064, USA