Factors influencing the distribution and activity of Dermacentor reticulatus (F.) ticks in an anthropopressure-unaffected area in central-eastern Poland
Introduction and objectives Despite the increasing prevalence and significant role of D. reticulatus in pathogen transmission, the factors influencing its distribution and activity are still poorly known. The paper presents for the first time a study of the D. reticulatus ecology in a protected...
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Institute of Rural Health
2016-06-01
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| Series: | Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine |
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| Online Access: | http://www.journalssystem.com/aaem/Factors-influencing-the-distribution-and-activity-of-Dermacentor-reticulatus-F-ticks-in-an-anthropopressure-unaffected-area-in-central-eastern-Poland,72411,0,2.html |
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| author | Zbigniew Zając Bartosik Katarzyna Alicja Buczek |
| author_facet | Zbigniew Zając Bartosik Katarzyna Alicja Buczek |
| author_sort | Zbigniew Zając |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction and objectives
Despite the increasing prevalence and significant role of D. reticulatus in pathogen transmission, the factors influencing its distribution and activity are still poorly known. The paper presents for the first time a study of the D. reticulatus ecology in a protected area, in which the dependence of D. reticulatus occurrence and activity on the ecological habitat type is analysed.
Material and Methods
Tick collection and environmental monitoring were conducted from March – November 2012 and 2014 in five ecologically-diverse habitats in the Polesie National Park of central-eastern Poland.
Results
The study shows that the most beneficial habitats for D. reticulatus are provided by meadow ecosystems dominated by plants from the class Molinio-Arrhenatheretea: Poa pratensis, P. trivialis , Festuca rubra , F. pratensis , and Alopecurcus pratensis , as well as Carex sp. sedges (64.78% of the tick collections). Less favourable conditions are offered by the fresh habitat covered by deciduous forest with dominance of Betula sp., A. pratensis , and Carex sp. sedges (15.27%), in the wet habitat dominated by Alnus glutinosa and Urtica dioica (9.00%), Betula humilis , Salix sp., and Carex sp. (8.44%), and in the subcontinental hornbeam forest Tilio-Carpinetum with poor undergrowth (2.50%). D. reticulatus avoids wet habitats with bog birch Betuletum pubescientis communities and moist pine forest Molinio-Pineteum , as well as habitats dominated by heather Calluna vulgaris .
Conclusions
The distribution and dynamics of the activity of adult D. reticulatus depends on the biological and geoclimatic conditions prevailing in tick habitats. The structure of the flora colonising a habitat may be an indicator of the presence of this tick species. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-12T18:23:05Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-d8a8893e644a4da494d33a583c4e7b0c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1232-1966 1898-2263 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-12T18:23:05Z |
| publishDate | 2016-06-01 |
| publisher | Institute of Rural Health |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-d8a8893e644a4da494d33a583c4e7b0c2022-12-22T03:21:22ZengInstitute of Rural HealthAnnals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine1232-19661898-22632016-06-0123227027510.5604/12321966.120388972411Factors influencing the distribution and activity of Dermacentor reticulatus (F.) ticks in an anthropopressure-unaffected area in central-eastern PolandZbigniew Zając0Bartosik Katarzyna1Alicja Buczek2Chair and Department of Biology and Parasitology, Medical University, Lublin, PolandChair and Department of Biology and Parasitology, Medical University, Lublin, PolandChair and Department of Biology and Parasitology, Medical University, Lublin, PolandIntroduction and objectives Despite the increasing prevalence and significant role of D. reticulatus in pathogen transmission, the factors influencing its distribution and activity are still poorly known. The paper presents for the first time a study of the D. reticulatus ecology in a protected area, in which the dependence of D. reticulatus occurrence and activity on the ecological habitat type is analysed. Material and Methods Tick collection and environmental monitoring were conducted from March – November 2012 and 2014 in five ecologically-diverse habitats in the Polesie National Park of central-eastern Poland. Results The study shows that the most beneficial habitats for D. reticulatus are provided by meadow ecosystems dominated by plants from the class Molinio-Arrhenatheretea: Poa pratensis, P. trivialis , Festuca rubra , F. pratensis , and Alopecurcus pratensis , as well as Carex sp. sedges (64.78% of the tick collections). Less favourable conditions are offered by the fresh habitat covered by deciduous forest with dominance of Betula sp., A. pratensis , and Carex sp. sedges (15.27%), in the wet habitat dominated by Alnus glutinosa and Urtica dioica (9.00%), Betula humilis , Salix sp., and Carex sp. (8.44%), and in the subcontinental hornbeam forest Tilio-Carpinetum with poor undergrowth (2.50%). D. reticulatus avoids wet habitats with bog birch Betuletum pubescientis communities and moist pine forest Molinio-Pineteum , as well as habitats dominated by heather Calluna vulgaris . Conclusions The distribution and dynamics of the activity of adult D. reticulatus depends on the biological and geoclimatic conditions prevailing in tick habitats. The structure of the flora colonising a habitat may be an indicator of the presence of this tick species.http://www.journalssystem.com/aaem/Factors-influencing-the-distribution-and-activity-of-Dermacentor-reticulatus-F-ticks-in-an-anthropopressure-unaffected-area-in-central-eastern-Poland,72411,0,2.htmlDermacentor reticulatusactivityabundancehabitat preferencesprotected area |
| spellingShingle | Zbigniew Zając Bartosik Katarzyna Alicja Buczek Factors influencing the distribution and activity of Dermacentor reticulatus (F.) ticks in an anthropopressure-unaffected area in central-eastern Poland Annals of Agricultural and Environmental Medicine Dermacentor reticulatus activity abundance habitat preferences protected area |
| title | Factors influencing the distribution and activity of Dermacentor reticulatus (F.) ticks in an anthropopressure-unaffected area in central-eastern Poland |
| title_full | Factors influencing the distribution and activity of Dermacentor reticulatus (F.) ticks in an anthropopressure-unaffected area in central-eastern Poland |
| title_fullStr | Factors influencing the distribution and activity of Dermacentor reticulatus (F.) ticks in an anthropopressure-unaffected area in central-eastern Poland |
| title_full_unstemmed | Factors influencing the distribution and activity of Dermacentor reticulatus (F.) ticks in an anthropopressure-unaffected area in central-eastern Poland |
| title_short | Factors influencing the distribution and activity of Dermacentor reticulatus (F.) ticks in an anthropopressure-unaffected area in central-eastern Poland |
| title_sort | factors influencing the distribution and activity of dermacentor reticulatus f ticks in an anthropopressure unaffected area in central eastern poland |
| topic | Dermacentor reticulatus activity abundance habitat preferences protected area |
| url | http://www.journalssystem.com/aaem/Factors-influencing-the-distribution-and-activity-of-Dermacentor-reticulatus-F-ticks-in-an-anthropopressure-unaffected-area-in-central-eastern-Poland,72411,0,2.html |
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