Ecological characterization of a tick community across a landscape gradient exhibiting differential anthropogenic disturbance in the Atlantic Forest ecoregion in Argentina. Issue 3 (25th January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lamattina, D.; Venzal, J. M.; Costa, S. A.; Arrabal, J. P.; Flores, S.; Berrozpe, P. E.; González‐Acuña, D.; Guglielmone, A. A.; Nava, S.
• Is Part Of: Medical and veterinary entomology. Volume 32:Issue 3(2018)
• Page Start: 271
• Page End: 281
• Publication Date: 2018-01-25
• Subjects: Ixodidae -- diversity -- environmental gradient -- host preferences -- lifecycle -- population ecology; Entomology -- Periodicals; Veterinary entomology -- Periodicals; Insects as carriers of disease -- Periodicals; 616.968
• DOI: 10.1111/mve.12295
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0269-283X

Abstract

Abstract: An ecological analysis of a tick (Ixodida: Ixodidae) community across a landscape gradient presenting differential anthropogenic disturbance in the Atlantic Forest ecoregion in Argentina was performed. Ticks were collected from vegetation and hosts between September 2014 and August 2016. A total of 12 697 free‐living ticks and 3347 specimens from hosts were collected, including 317 ticks infesting humans. The values obtained show considerable species diversity in the forest environment accompanied by low equitability. The similarity index derived from a comparison of forest and agricultural environments was higher than that calculated by comparing forest and urban environments. The data suggest that although a cycle of one generation per year is apparent in some species, more than one cohort may co‐exist within the populations of some of these species. Well‐marked patterns of the seasonal distribution of free‐living tick species emerged in environments with no anthropic modification. The results indicate that forest environments are more suitable habitats than agricultural and urban environments for many species of native tick, but are unsuitable for exotic species that have successfully established in environments that have been modified by man. Abstract : The similarity index for tick diversity in forest and agricultural environments was higher than that for forest and urban environments. Forest environments are suitable for many native ticks, but are unsuitable for exotic species that have successfully established in environments modified by man. Although a cycle of one generation per year is apparent in some species, more than one cohort may co‐exist within populations of some of these species.