Open AccessEffects of Climate on the Variation in Abundance of Three Tick Species in Illinois
Author(s) -
E A Bacon,
Heather L. Kopsco,
Peg Gronemeyer,
Nohra E. MateusPinilla,
Rebecca L. Smith
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
journal of medical entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1938-2928
pISSN - 0022-2585
DOI - 10.1093/jme/tjab189
Subject(s) - dermacentor variabilis , ixodidae , amblyomma americanum , tick , ixodes scapularis , biology , acari , abundance (ecology) , ecology , dermacentor
The range of ticks in North America has been steadily increasing likely, in part, due to climate change. Along with it, there has been a rise in cases of tick-borne disease. Among those medically important tick species of particular concern are Ixodes scapularis Say (Acari: Ixodidae), Dermacentor variabilis Say (Acari: Ixodidae), and Amblyomma americanum Linneaus (Acari: Ixodidae). The aim of this study was to determine if climate factors explain existing differences in abundance of the three aforementioned tick species between two climatically different regions of Illinois (Central and Southern), and if climate variables impact each species differently. We used both zero-inflated regression approaches and Bayesian network analyses to assess relationships among environmental variables and tick abundance. Results suggested that the maximum average temperature and total precipitation are associated with differential impact on species abundance and that this difference varied by region. Results also reinforced a differential level of resistance to desiccation among these tick species. Our findings help to further define risk periods of tick exposure for the general public, and reinforce the importance of responding to each tick species differently.