PREVALENCE OF DEER TICKS (IXODES SCAPULARIS) ON WHITE-FOOTED MICE (PEROMYSCUS LEUCOPUS) IN FOREST FRAGMENTS

Effects of fragmentation on distribution of ectoparasites of mammals are not well understood. A previous study reported higher nymphal tick (Ixodes scapularis) densities in smaller than in larger fragments. We tested whether there was a higher prevalence of ticks on white-footed mice (Peromyscus leu...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of mammalogy 2004-10, Vol.85 (5), p.1015-1018
Main Authors: Wilder, Shawn M., Meikle, Douglas B.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Agricultural history
Agricultural land
Animal and plant ecology
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Animals
Biological and medical sciences
Deer
deer tick
Demecology
Ectoparasites
FEATURE ARTICLES
Forest habitats
fragments
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Habitat fragmentation
Habitats
Infections
Ixodes scapularis
Ixodidae
Lyme disease
Mammalia
Mammalogy
Mice
Parasites
Parasitism
Peromyscus leucopus
Rodents
Ticks
Vector-borne diseases
Vertebrata
Vertebrates: general zoology, morphology, phylogeny, systematics, cytogenetics, geographical distribution
white-footed mouse
Young animals
Zoology
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Summary:Effects of fragmentation on distribution of ectoparasites of mammals are not well understood. A previous study reported higher nymphal tick (Ixodes scapularis) densities in smaller than in larger fragments. We tested whether there was a higher prevalence of ticks on white-footed mice (Peromyscus leucopus) in small forest fragments in an agricultural landscape. We observed a lower prevalence of ticks on mice in smaller than in larger fragments. Differences in infection rates between fragments, use of fragments by white-tailed deer, and agricultural history of landscapes could contribute to the apparent differences in tick abundance between this study and that reported previously. Resolution of the apparently contradictory data will require that the abundance of host-seeking ticks and prevalence on mice be measured in both landscapes.
ISSN:0022-2372
1545-1542
DOI:10.1644/020