Influence of selected meteorological variables on the questing activity of<i>Ixodes ricinus</i>ticks in Lower Silesia, SW Poland

Kiewra, Dorota; Kryza, Maciej; Szymanowski, Mariusz

doi:10.1111/j.1948-7134.2014.12080.x

Cited by 35 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…Thus, they do not represent a limiting factor for tick development. Abiotic factors such as temperature and humidity, however, may restrict the development of hard ticks, in particular I. ricinus (Dautel 2010;Dautel et al 2016;Kiewra et al 2014). Süss et al (2008) described questing ticks at temperatures as low as 7°C.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Research paper on abiotic factors and their influence on Ixodes ricinus activity—observations over a two-year period at several tick collection sites in Germany

et al. 2020

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Tick-borne diseases are a public health issue. To predict vector tick abundance and activity, it is necessary to understand the driving factors for these variables. In this study, the activity of Ixodes ricinus was investigated in forest and meadow habitats in Germany with a focus on abiotic factors. Ixodes ricinus adults, nymphs and larvae were caught by flagging over a period of 2 years. Microclimatic and weather conditions were recorded at the collection sites. Statistical models were applied to describe correlations between abiotic factors and tick activity in univariable and multivariable analyses. Tick activity was observed in a broad range of air temperature between 3 and 28°C, and air humidity varied between 35 and 95%. In general, tick activity of nymphs and larvae was higher in forest habitats than that in meadows. With the exception of a single specimen of Dermacentor reticulatus, all ticks were Ixodes ricinus, most of them nymphs (63.2% in 2009 and 75.2% in 2010). For the latter, a negative binomial mixed-effects model fitted best to the observed parameters. The modelling results showed an activity optimum between 20 and 23°C for air temperature and between 13 and 15°C for ground temperature. In univariable analyses, the collection site, month, season, ground and air temperature were significant factors for the number of ticks caught and for all life stages. In the multivariable analysis, temperature, season and habitat turned out to be key drivers. Ixodes ricinus positive for RNA of tick-borne encephalitis virus was only found at a single sampling site. The results of this study can be used in risk assessments and to parameterise predictive models.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Research paper on abiotic factors and their influence on Ixodes ricinus activity—observations over a two-year period at several tick collection sites in Germany

et al. 2020

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“…Geophys. WRF for the long-term period was undertaken to provide consistent spatial meteorological information for the entire area of Poland to various stakeholders who require this kind of information. Noticeably, this information has already supported ecological studies on tick activity (KIEWRA et al 2014) and hydrological forecasting with HydroProg model (JEZIORSKA and NIEDZIELSKI 2015, this issue). To our knowledge, this is the first study that analyses the WRF model performance for this geographical area at high spatial and temporal resolution and for a long-term period of 30 years.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The demand for meteorological information, available for a long-term period, at high spatial and temporal resolution, and developed homogenously for a large area is increasing. This information is a must for other studies, such as ecology and tick diseases (KIEWRA et al 2014), air quality WERNER et al 2011;HERNANDEZ-CEBALLOS et al 2014) or hydrological forecasting (Jeziorska and Niedzielski, this issue).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High-Resolution Dynamical Downscaling of ERA-Interim Using the WRF Regional Climate Model for the Area of Poland. Part 1: Model Configuration and Statistical Evaluation for the 1981–2010 Period

Kryza¹,

Wałaszek²,

Ojrzyńska³

et al. 2016

Pure Appl. Geophys.

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Abstract-In this work, we present the results of high-resolution dynamical downscaling of air temperature, relative humidity, wind speed and direction, for the area of Poland, with the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. The model is configured using three nested domains, with spatial resolution of 45 km 9 45 km, 15 km 9 15 km and 5 km 9 5 km. The ERA-Interim database is used for boundary conditions. The results are evaluated by comparison with station measurements for the period 1981-2010. The model is capable of reproducing the main climatological features of the study area. The results are in very close agreement with the measurements, especially for the air temperature. For all four meteorological variables, the model performance captures seasonal and daily cycles. For the air temperature and winter season, the model underestimates the measurements. For summer, the model shows higher values, compared with the measurements. The opposite is the case for relative humidity. There is a strong diurnal pattern in mean error, which changes seasonally. The agreement with the measurements is worse for the seashore and mountain areas, which suggests that the 5 km 9 5 km grid might still have an insufficient spatial resolution. There is no statistically significant temporal trend in the model performance. The larger year-to-year changes in the model performance, e.g. for the years 1982 and 2010 for the air temperature should therefore be linked with the natural variability of meteorological conditions.

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“…Temperature, degree and amount of sunshine, rainfall and relative humidity have been correlated either negatively or positively with questing behaviour of Ixodes spp. in several studies (Zemskaya 1984; Goddard, 1992; Mejlon, 1997; Vail and Smith, 1998; Eisen et al, 2002; Hubálek et al, 2003; Lane et al, 2007; Kiewra et al, 2014; Berger et al, 2014; Daniel et al, 2015), but the importance of these factors vary in different habitats and are mainly relevant in that they impact the water balance and energy depletion of the tick, and thus its survival. Whereas responses to ambient conditions can best be described as tactical, anticipation of unfavourable conditions well in advance of predictable seasonal climate changes is more of a strategic response, and the mechanisms involved are various forms of diapause that are incorporated into the developmental biology of these tick species.…”

Section: Explanations Of Seasonal Activity Patternsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Diapause in ticks of the medically important Ixodes ricinus species complex

Gray

Kahl²,

Lane

et al. 2016

Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases

154

157

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Four members of the Ixodes ricinus species complex, Ixodes pacificus, Ixodes persulcatus, Ixodes ricinus and Ixodes scapularis, have, between them, a worldwide distribution within the northern hemisphere. They are responsible for the transmission of several animal and human pathogens, including the causal agents of Lyme borreliosis, tick-borne encephalitis, human granulocytic anaplasmosis and human babesiosis. Despite the importance of these ticks as vectors, the knowledge and understanding of the role that diapause plays in their complex life cycles are confused and incomplete. In view of the continuing geographic spread of these tick species, as well as the effects of climate change on vector-borne diseases, it is timely encourage research on diapause phenomena to improve understanding of their biology and of pathogen transmission dynamics. In our review we seek to clarify thinking on the topic and to address gaps in our knowledge that require the attention of researchers.

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Influence of selected meteorological variables on the questing activity ofIxodes ricinusticks in Lower Silesia, SW Poland

Cited by 35 publications

References 24 publications

Research paper on abiotic factors and their influence on Ixodes ricinus activity—observations over a two-year period at several tick collection sites in Germany

Research paper on abiotic factors and their influence on Ixodes ricinus activity—observations over a two-year period at several tick collection sites in Germany

High-Resolution Dynamical Downscaling of ERA-Interim Using the WRF Regional Climate Model for the Area of Poland. Part 1: Model Configuration and Statistical Evaluation for the 1981–2010 Period

Diapause in ticks of the medically important Ixodes ricinus species complex

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