Microhabitat and Demographic Correlates of Tick Parasitism in a Northern Great Basin Small Mammal Community

Modeling the influence ofPeromyscus leucopusbody mass, sex, and habitat on immatureDermacentor variabilisburden

“…The host variables of body mass, sex, and habitat are important in describing immature D. variabilis burden on P. leucopus . These findings are consistent with observations of other rodent‐tick systems in which a disproportionate number of ticks are observed on male mice (Laurance and Coan 1987, Brunner and Ostfeld 1991, Boyer et al 2010, Harrison et al 2010), larger mice (Brunnner and Ostfeld 2008, Harrison et al 2010, Kiffner et al 2011), and mice in different habitats (Sonenshine et al 1966, Laurance and Coan 1987, Boyer et al 2010, Kiffner et al 2011).…”

“…Tick burden in field populations has been observed to be disproportionately higher in male than female rodents (Laurance and Coan 1987, Brunner and Ostfeld 2008, Harrison et al 2010). However, one report indicates that burden differs between sexes in Tamias sibiricus between years (Boyer et al 2010).…”

“…Higher tick burden has been associated with some habitat types (Sonenshine et al 1966, Campbell and MacKay 1979, Laurance and Coan 1987, Boyer et al 2010, Kiffner et al 2011). Habitat type could influence the probability of encounter between hosts and ticks by influencing the abundance of hosts or immature ticks (Laurance and Coan 1987, Mannelli et al 1994, Adler et al 1992, Lindsay et al 1999) or host movement within the habitat (Sonenshine and Stout 1968, Boyer et al 2010).…”

Host Associations of the Tick,Ixodes angustus(Acari: Ixodidae), on Alaskan Mammals

“…We did not demonstrate a tick association based on the age and/or sex of the host (data not shown). However, other studies suggest that male rodents have a greater risk of tick parasitism than do females because males have a broader home range and are more active than females (Laurance andCoan 1987, Ostfeld et al 1996).…”

The Biological Survey of Canada: A Personal History

“…In montane habitats, adults of D. andersoni are frequently collected along clearings such as power lines or logging roads, and can be concentrated in relatively small areas near shrubby, rocky outcrops in open grassy areas (Wilkinson 1967(Wilkinson , 1971Schaalje and Wilkinson 1985). In British Columbia, unfed adults of D. andersoni were associated with habitats having an abundance of saskatoon (Amelanchier alnifolia (Nuttall) Nuttall ex Roemer (Rosales: Rosaceae)) and rose bushes (Rosales: Rosaceae), presumably reflecting use of these microhabitats by hosts for nymphs (Schaalje and Wilkinson 1985;Laurance and Coan 1987). In prairie habitats, adults can be found in open rangelands, but are generally most abundant on sparse vegetation within dried river beds or coulees (Holland 1940).…”