24th Annual Student Research Conference
Seasonal Activity Patterns of the Tick Amblyomma americanum and the Role of Temperature
Drake C. Bouzek
Dr. Stephanie Fore and Dr. Hyun-Joo Kim, Faculty Mentors
Meteorological factors influence the development and host-seeking activity of Amblyomma americanum. The objectives of this study were to determine seasonal activity patterns of each life stage of A. americanum in the northwestern part of the species range and the relationship of these activity patterns among life stages and to degree days. Tick activity has been monitored since February 2007 in forest and old field habitats located in northeastern Missouri. Every other week from February to December, active ticks were collected using bait and drag methods. Autocorrelations demonstrated yearly seasonal patterns in each life stage and cross-correlations between life stages depicted a relationship between activity at a life stage and the previous stages activity. Cross-correlations indicated that degree days are related to activity. These data indicated that A. americanum complete their life cycle in a minimum of two years in northeastern Missouri, with overwintering occurring predominantly in the nymphal and adult stages.
Keywords: Amblyomma americanum, Population Dynamics, Long Term Population Monitoring, Temperature, Time Series Analysis, Autocorrelation, Cross-correlation
Topic(s):Mathematical Biology
Biology
Statistics
Presentation Type: Oral Paper
Session: 32-1
Location: MG 1000
Time: 1:15