Longer study length, standardized sampling techniques, and broader geographic scope leads to higher likelihood of detecting stable abundance patterns in long term black-legged tick studies
Abstract:Background
Understanding how study design and monitoring strategies shape inference within, and synthesis across, studies is critical across biological disciplines. Many biological and field studies are short term and limited in scope. Monitoring studies are critical for informing public health about potential vectors of concern, such as Ixodes scapularis (black-legged ticks). Black-legged ticks are a taxon of ecological and human health concern due to their status as primary vectors of Borrelia… Show more
“…A recent review described changes in the tick’s distribution with significant recolonization of counties in the Upper Midwest, Ohio Valley, Northeast, and northern states in the Southeast region over the past half century ( Eisen and Eisen, 2023 ). Numerous small-scale studies have noted trends of increasing DON immediately after colonization, then stabilization in long-term density estimates ( Hamer et al, 2010 ; Serra et al, 2013 ; Brinkerhoff et al, 2014 ; Tran et al, 2021 ; Christie et al, 2022 ). As a result of these tick colonization and establishment processes, it was not surprising to see differences in the proportions of counties classified as moderate or high between time periods.…”
“…A recent review described changes in the tick’s distribution with significant recolonization of counties in the Upper Midwest, Ohio Valley, Northeast, and northern states in the Southeast region over the past half century ( Eisen and Eisen, 2023 ). Numerous small-scale studies have noted trends of increasing DON immediately after colonization, then stabilization in long-term density estimates ( Hamer et al, 2010 ; Serra et al, 2013 ; Brinkerhoff et al, 2014 ; Tran et al, 2021 ; Christie et al, 2022 ). As a result of these tick colonization and establishment processes, it was not surprising to see differences in the proportions of counties classified as moderate or high between time periods.…”
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