Microclimate conditions alter Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) overwinter survival across climate gradients in Maine, United States

Volk, Michelle; Lubelczyk, Charles B.; Johnston, Jason C.; Levesque, Danielle L.; Gardner, Allison

doi:10.1016/j.ttbdis.2021.101872

Cited by 16 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 67 publications

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“…Other studies have also found that whether ticks have greater overwintering survival in a particular microclimate varies across the years (e.g. Maine, Volk et al, 2022). The effect is possibly most pronounced during the most severe winters.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For example, I. scapularis can successfully overwinter in regions that are below their thermal limits based on winter air temperatures (e.g. Northwestern Ontario, Lindsay et al, 1995; Upstate New York, Burtis et al, 2019; Maine, Volk et al, 2022). Ticks can survive in these areas because they have adaptations, such as burrowing into leaf litter, that protect them from lethal temperatures (Brunner et al, 2012; Linske et al, 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, overwintering survival is highly variable across years (e.g. Lindsay et al, 1998; Volk et al, 2022), and our understanding of the various factors that determine overwintering success remains incomplete. We examine the possibility that infection with the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi (the causative agent of Lyme Disease, Burgdorfer et al, 1982) is also a factor in determining overwintering survival.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This cold intolerance may have historically excluded I. scapularis from northern regions of North America (Estrada-Peña 2002). Nevertheless, factors other than temperature play a role in determining overwintering survival (Lindsay et al 1995; Lindsay et al 1998; Brunner et al 2014; Burtis et al 2016; Burtis & Pflueger 2017; Clow et al 2017; Kilpatrick et al 2017; Hammond-Collins et al 2022; Volk et al 2022). For example, I. scapularis can successfully overwinter in regions that are below their thermal limits based on winter air temperatures (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Ticks can survive in these areas because they have adaptations, such as burrowing into leaf litter, that protect them from lethal temperatures (Brunner et al 2012; Linske et al 2019). However, overwintering survival is highly variable across years (Lindsay et al 1998) (Volk et al 2022), and our understanding of the various factors that determine overwintering success remains incomplete. We examine the possibility that infection with the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi (the causative agent of Lyme Disease (Burgdorfer et al 1982)) is also a factor in determining overwintering survival.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Female ticks (Ixodes scapularis) infected withBorrelia burgdorferihave increased overwintering survival, with implications for tick population growth

Nabbout

Ferguson

Miyashita

et al. 2022

Preprint

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The tick,Ixodes scapularis, vectors pathogens such asBorrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium that causes Lyme Disease. Over the last few decadesI. scapularishas expanded its range, introducing a novel health threat into these areas. Warming temperatures appear to be a major cause of this northward expansion. However, other factors are also involved. We show that adult ticks infected withB. burgdorferihave greater overwintering survival than uninfected ticks. Adult ticks were placed in individual microcosms and allowed to overwinter in both forest and dune grass environments. In the spring we collected the ticks and tested both dead and living ticks forB. burgdorferi DNA. Infected ticks had greater overwintering survival compared with uninfected ticks every winter for three consecutive winters in both forest and dune grass environments. The increased winter survival of adult female ticks could have a large impact on tick population growth, as we demonstrate. Our results suggest that, in addition to climate change,B. burgdorferiinfection itself may be promoting the northern range expansion ofI. scapularis. Our study highlights how pathogens could work synergistically with climate change to promote host range expansion.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Female ticks (Ixodes scapularis) infected withBorrelia burgdorferihave increased overwintering survival, with implications for tick population growth

Nabbout

Ferguson

Miyashita

et al. 2022

Preprint

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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High‐resolution environmental and host‐related factors impacting questing Ixodes scapularis at their northern range edge

Crandall,

Millien,

Kerr

2024

Ecology and Evolution

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The geographic range of tick populations has expanded in Canada due to climate warming and the associated poleward range shifts of their vertebrate hosts. Abiotic factors, such as temperature, precipitation, and snow, are known to directly affect tick abundance. Yet, biotic factors, such as the abundance and diversity of mammal hosts, may also alter tick abundance and consequent tick‐borne disease risk. Here, we incorporated host surveillance data with high‐resolution environmental data to evaluate the combined impact of abiotic and biotic factors on questing Ixodes scapularis abundance in Ontario and Quebec, Canada. High‐resolution abiotic factors were derived from remote sensing satellites and meteorological towers, while biotic factors related to mammal hosts were derived from active surveillance data that we collected in the field. Generalized additive models were used to determine the relative importance of abiotic and biotic factors on questing I. scapularis abundance. Combinations of abiotic and biotic factors were identified as important drivers of abundances of questing I. scapularis. Positive and negative linear relationships were found for questing I. scapularis abundance with monthly mean precipitation and accumulated snow, but no effect was found for the relative abundance of white‐footed mice. Positive relationships were also identified between questing I. scapularis abundance with monthly mean precipitation and mammal species richness. Therefore, future studies that assess I. scapularis should incorporate host surveillance data with high‐resolution environmental factors to determine the key drivers impacting the abundance and geographic spread of tick populations and tick‐borne pathogens.

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Off‐host survival of blacklegged ticks in eastern North America: A multistage, multiyear, multisite study

Brunner

LaDeau

Killilea

et al. 2023

Ecological Monographs

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Climatic conditions are widely thought to govern the distribution and abundance of ectoparasites, such as the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis), vector of the agents of Lyme disease and other emerging human pathogens. However, translating physiological tolerances to distributional limits or mortality is challenging. Ticks may be able to avoid or tolerate unsuitable conditions, and what is lethal to one life history stage may not extend to others. Thus, even after decades of research, there are clear gaps in our knowledge about how climatic conditions determine tick distributions or patterns of abundance. We present results from a 3‐year study combining daily hazard models and data from field experiments at three sites spanning much of I. scapularis' current latitudinal distribution. We examine three predominant hypotheses regarding how temperature and vapor pressure deficits affect stage‐specific survival and transition success and consider how these results influence population growth and distribution. We found that larvae are sensitive to temperature and vapor pressure deficits, whereas mortality of nymphs and adults is consistent with depletion of energy reserves. Consistent with prior work, we found that overwinter survival was high and successful stage transitions (e.g., fed nymphs molting to adults) were sensitive to temperature. Collectively, results from this comprehensive, multiyear, multistage field study suggest that population growth of I. scapularis is less limited by restrictive climatic conditions than has been broadly assumed, although influences on larval survival may slow tick population growth and establishment in some desiccating conditions. Further studies should integrate climate effects on stage‐specific survival to better understand these effects on population dynamics and range expansion in a changing climate.

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Microclimate conditions alter Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) overwinter survival across climate gradients in Maine, United States

Cited by 16 publications

References 67 publications

Female ticks (Ixodes scapularis) infected withBorrelia burgdorferihave increased overwintering survival, with implications for tick population growth

Female ticks (Ixodes scapularis) infected withBorrelia burgdorferihave increased overwintering survival, with implications for tick population growth

High‐resolution environmental and host‐related factors impacting questing Ixodes scapularis at their northern range edge

Off‐host survival of blacklegged ticks in eastern North America: A multistage, multiyear, multisite study

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