Influence of Meso- and Microscale Habitat Structure on Focal Distribution of Sympatric Ixodes scapularis and Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae)

We compared the distribution of sympatric Ixodes scapularis Say and Amblyomma americanum (L.) within several suitable forested habitats at different spatial scales and characterized differences in microhabitat features accounting for the observed distribution of questing ticks. We used automatic dat...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of medical entomology 2005-05, Vol.42 (3), p.285-294
Main Authors: Schulze, Terry L., Jordan, Robert A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Amblyomma americanum
Animals
Behavior, Animal
Biological and medical sciences
disease vectors
Environment
forest habitats
forest litter
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
habitat
Insect Vectors
Ixodes - growth & development
Ixodes - physiology
Ixodes scapularis
Ixodidae - growth & development
Ixodidae - physiology
litter layer
Lyme disease
Medically important nuisances and vectors, pests of stored products and materials: population survey and control
mesoclimate
Microclimate
microhabitats
overstory
Pinus
POPULATION AND COMMUNITY ECOLOGY
Population Density
shrub layer
shrubs
spatial distribution
spatial scale
tick ecology
ticks
Trees
vector ecology
Vectors. Intermediate hosts
vegetation
vegetation structure
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Summary:We compared the distribution of sympatric Ixodes scapularis Say and Amblyomma americanum (L.) within several suitable forested habitats at different spatial scales and characterized differences in microhabitat features accounting for the observed distribution of questing ticks. We used automatic data loggers placed in the shrub and litter layers to contrast mesoclimate and microclimate conditions experienced by questing ticks. Larger numbers of I. scapularis were collected at sites where the forest canopy was more fragmented and where the canopy contained more hardwood species than pitch pine, Pinus rigida Mill. Dominance of pine in the canopy affected the character of the shrub layer vegetation and composition of the litter layer, which concomitantly affected the microclimate conditions experienced by questing ticks. Pitch pine-dominated habitats were drier and hotter than those under a broad-leaved canopy, and questing ticks experienced increased saturation deficit in the later spring and summer in pine forest sites. The shrub layer vegetation seemed to have a moderating effect on the microclimate experienced by questing ticks and subtle differences in vegetation structure resulted in substantially different conditions as encountered by questing ticks over the space of a few meters. In contrast to questing I. scapularis, all three stages of questing A. americanum exhibited poor relationships with microclimate variables recorded in the litter and shrub layers. Further research is required to determine which environmental conditions and which habitats are most likely to support this species.
ISSN:0022-2585
1938-2928
DOI:10.1603/0022-2585%282005%29042%5B0285%3AIOMAMH%5D2.0.CO%3B2