Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 13, 2026
07:21
Tick Microbiome Characterization by Next-Generation 16S rRNA Amplicon Sequencing
Published on: August 25, 2018
Host community structure and infestation by ixodid ticks: repeatability, dilution effect and ecological
Boris R Krasnov1, Michal Stanko, Serge Morand
1Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology, Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede-Boqer Campus, 84990 Midreshet Ben-Gurion and Ramon Science Center, P.O. Box 194, 80600, Mizpe Ramon, Israel. krasnov@bgu.ac.il
Oecologia
|August 9, 2007
Summary
Tick infestation levels are repeatable within species and influenced by host abundance. The dilution effect, where more hosts reduce tick burden, was observed for the generalist tick Ixodes ricinus but not the specialist Ixodes trianguliceps.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Parasitology
- Wildlife Health
Background:
- Host abundance and diversity influence parasite dynamics.
- Ecological generalist and specialist ticks may interact differently with host communities.
- Understanding tick infestation patterns is crucial for disease ecology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the repeatability of tick infestation parameters (abundance, prevalence, aggregation) within tick and host species.
- To investigate the impact of small mammal host abundance and species richness on tick infestation levels.
- To compare the expression of the dilution effect between an ecological generalist tick (Ixodes ricinus) and an ecological specialist tick (Ixodes trianguliceps).
Main Methods:
- Studied Ixodes ricinus and Ixodes trianguliceps tick infestations on small mammals.
- Analyzed repeatability of tick abundance, prevalence, and aggregation.
- Examined the relationship between host abundance/diversity and tick infestation parameters.
Main Results:
- Tick abundance, prevalence, and aggregation were repeatable within tick species/stages.
- Tick abundance and prevalence were repeatable within host species, but aggregation was not.
- Differences between tick species/stages explained more variance than differences between host species.
- The dilution effect was evident for Ixodes ricinus but not Ixodes trianguliceps.
Conclusions:
- Tick infestation patterns exhibit significant repeatability, influenced by both tick and host species characteristics.
- Ecological generalist ticks like Ixodes ricinus are more susceptible to the dilution effect than specialist ticks.
- Host community structure plays a key role in modulating tick burden, with implications for disease transmission.
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