Digest: Great tits and their ticks: Life‐history traits affect tick fitness. (1st August 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Matson, Kevin D.; de Boer, Willem F.; Ottenburghs, Jente
• Is Part Of: Evolution. Volume 76:Number 8(2022)
• Page Start: 1914
• Page End: 1915
• Publication Date: 2022-08-01
• Subjects: Evolution -- Periodicals; Heredity -- Periodicals; Évolution (Biologie) -- Périodiques; Hérédité -- Périodiques; 338.47004094
• DOI: 10.1111/evo.14543
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0014-3820

Abstract

Abstract: Ectoparasites such as ticks face many challenges to reproduce. They must maximize the size of their blood meal while avoiding being removed by their host. In a new study, Fracasso and colleagues followed the fate of individual ticks to determine which life‐history traits impact tick fitness. Their findings reveal a complex interplay between numerous parameters, including feeding time and engorgement weight. The situation is likely even more complicated when considering vector‐borne pathogens.