Using i-tree canopy vegetation cover subtype classification to predict peri-domestic tick presence

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Ecology
• Public Health Entomology

Background:

• Existing research links vegetation cover to tick activity.
• No studies have specifically examined peri-domestic vegetation subtypes and tick presence.
• Understanding these relationships is crucial for effective tick-borne disease prevention.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the association between peri-domestic vegetation cover subtypes and tick presence.
• To investigate the confounding or modifying effects of neighborhood wood index (NWI) and residential tick control practices.
• To identify key landscape features influencing tick presence in residential areas.

Main Methods:

• Ecological inventory of vegetation cover using i-Tree Canopy on 210 properties in Indiana, USA.
• Paired vegetation data with field-obtained tick presence/absence data.
• Collected online survey data on residential tick control practices from property occupants.

Main Results:

• Higher vegetation cover, particularly canopy, was significantly associated with increased tick presence.
• Frequent leaf litter removal was linked to a reduced likelihood of tick presence.
• Neighborhood Wood Index (NWI) and regional location (Southern Indiana) were significant predictors of tick presence.

Conclusions:

• Peri-domestic vegetation canopy and leaf litter management are critical factors for controlling tick presence.
• Neighborhood-level vegetation (NWI) and geographic region modify tick presence risk.
• i-Tree Canopy is a valuable tool for identifying landscape features associated with tick presence.