Occurrence of sheep ticks on moorlandwader chicks

Newborn, David; Fletcher, Kathy; Beeston, Rebecca; Baines, David

doi:10.1080/00063650902792155

Cited by 9 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 13 publications

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“…Forestry also holds high densities of ticks Ixodes ricinus relative to blanket bog (Gilbert ), and although the form of the relationship between tick densities and distance to forest edges remains unknown, ticks can infest chicks of moorland‐breeding waders (Newborn et al . ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Modelling edge effects of mature forest plantations on peatland waders informs landscape‐scale conservation

Wilson

Anderson

Bailey

et al. 2013

Journal of Applied Ecology

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Summary1. Edge effects of native forest fragmentation have been well studied, but there are few studies of open-ground habitats fragmented by plantation forests. We measure forestry edge effects on open-ground breeding birds, following one of Europe's biggest and most controversial land-use transformations. 2. The 'Flow Country' of northern Scotland is one of the world's greatest expanses of blanket bog. It became fragmented by conifer forests planted in the late 20th century, and these now adjoin open peatlands protected under European conservation legislation. Detrimental edge effects on breeding birds were anticipated, but not apparent shortly after planting. 3. Using survey data collected in [2003][2004][2005][2006], and logistic regression modelling, we tested whether breeding distributions of three wader species of international conservation concern, dunlin, European golden plover and common greenshank, were influenced by distance to forest edge, controlling for habitat and topography. 4. All three species were more likely to occupy flatter, more exposed ground close to bog pools and were influenced by peatland vegetation structure. There was an additive and adverse effect of proximity to forest edge for dunlin and European golden plover, but not common greenshank. This effect was strongest within 700 m of forest edges. We used these results to predict which areas should benefit most from removal of adjacent forestry and so guide maintenance and restoration of the bird interests of the protected areas. 5. Synthesis and applications. Edge effects of mature forestry on dunlin and golden plover are apparent over several hundred metres and are now being used to guide forest planning in northern Scotland. The scale of edge effect is broadly consistent with other avian studies in open-ground habitats across Eurasia and North America, so buffer zones of this order are consistent with possible impacts of plantation forestry on open-ground habitats of bird conservation interest. Given renewed interest in conifer afforestation as a climate change mitigation measure, an improved understanding of edge effects and the mechanisms through which they operate is vital to managing plantation forestry in ways that maintain open-ground landscapes of high conservation value.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Modelling edge effects of mature forest plantations on peatland waders informs landscape‐scale conservation

Wilson

Anderson

Bailey

et al. 2013

Journal of Applied Ecology

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“…A comparison of tick infestation rates on sheep and red grouse chicks from this study with other studies in the U.K. in relation to whether acaricide treatment of sheep was 'standard' (typically two applications per year) or had been 'improved' (four applications per year). (Fletcher & Baines, 2018) 2012-13 Improved -(24) 5.8 (0.3-23.2) North York Moors (Newborn & Baines, 2012) 1992-99 Standard -(9) 11.2 (6.4-19.9) 1995-03 Improved -(11) 1.8 (0.1-6.7) North York Moors (Newborn et al, 2014) 2012-13 Standard (2) 5.2 (3.5-6.9) -Improved…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…England (Newborn & Baines, 2012;Newborn et al, 2014, Baines & Taylor, 2016Fletcher & Baines, 2018). In the latter regions, improved acaricide management of hill sheep flocks was associated with a significant reduction in tick burdens of both grouse chicks (Newborn & Baines, 2012) and sheep (Newborn et al, 2014), which in turn was associated with higher grouse chick survival, productivity and post-breeding densities (Baines & Taylor, 2016; D. Baines, Unpublished data). The consensus amongst interviewed graziers was that sheep ticks had increased over the last 25 years on their farms.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Peaks of sheep tick activity within the U.K. overlap with the chick-rearing periods of several species of ground-nesting birds (Lees & Milne, 1951;Randolph et al, 2002). Even in the absence of LIV, high tick burdens can result in either a poor body condition or the lowered survival not only in chicks of red grouse (Baines & Taylor 2016), but also in chicks of species of conservation concern such as the curlew Numenius arquata (Grant et al, 1999;Newborn et al, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Sheep tickIxodes ricinusmanagement on Welsh hill farms of designated conservation importance: implications for nationally declining birds

Baines

Becker

Hart³

2019

Medical Vet Entomology

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Impacts of sheep ticks Ixodes ricinus on livestock, gamebirds and wildlife are of concern across Europe. The present study describes livestock and tick management by 36 farmers from three upland sites of conservation importance in North Wales, where farmers consider that ticks have increased during the last 25 years. Sheep, average densities of 2.0 animals per ha were treated with pour‐on acaricides in spring, again in July, and also when removed from the moor in autumn. Given acaricide efficacy rates, sheep were susceptible to tick bites for half the period on the moor. Sheep from 17 farms were examined for ticks. Infestations were similar between farms and in relation to the acaricide used, averaging 9.3 ticks per sheep, although they were lower where the interval between successive acaricide treatments was shorter. Repeated sampling of sheep and red grouse chicks showed no annual difference in tick burdens on grouse chicks, which averaged 6.2 ticks per chick, although there were three‐fold fewer ticks on sheep in 2018 than in previous years. Tick bite rates on sheep and grouse were higher than elsewhere in the U.K. Most farmers interviewed would aim to improve their tick management using longer‐lasting acaricides and treating sheep more frequently, although they would need advice and financial help, which is currently unavailable via Government funded agri‐environment schemes.

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“…Experiments to reduce tick burdens using acaricide-impregnated patagial tags or leg bands have had equivocal impacts on chick survival (Laurenson et al, 1997;Mougeot et al, 2008;Baines & Taylor, 2016). High tick burdens may also cause mortality in other ground-nesting birds of conservation concern (Grant et al, 1999), although it is not known whether other species are susceptible to LIV (Newborn et al, 2009).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effects of acaricide treatment of sheep on red grouseLagopus lagopus scoticatick burdens and productivity in a multi‐host system

Fletcher

Baines

2017

Medical Vet Entomology

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Ixodes ricinus (Ixodida: Ixodidae) ticks are of economic and pathogenic importance across Europe. Within the uplands of the U.K., management to reduce ticks is undertaken to benefit red grouse Lagopus lagopus scotica (Galliformes: Phasianidae). Management strategies focus on the acaricide treatment of domestic sheep Ovis aries (Artiodactyla: Bovidae), but the effectiveness of this is less certain in the presence of wild hosts, particularly red deer Cervus elaphus (Artiodactyla: Cervidae) and mountain hare Lepus timidus (Lagomorpha: Leporidae). This study examines the effects of sheep management on grouse tick burdens and productivity using sites with a range of wild host densities. Sites at which applications of acaricide were more frequent had lower tick burdens; this relationship was similar on sites with a range of deer densities. However, no direct link was detected between acaricide treatment interval and grouse productivity. Sites with higher deer densities had higher grouse tick burdens and lower productivity [mean ± standard error (SE) young : adult ratio: 1.2 ± 0.2] compared with sites with lower deer densities (mean ± SE young : adult ratio: 1.8 ± 0.1). Sites with higher grouse brood sizes and higher proportions of hens with broods were also those with higher mountain hare abundance indices. This study highlights the importance of the frequent treatment of sheep with acaricide to reduce tick burdens on grouse, even in the presence of wild hosts.

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Occurrence of sheep ticks on moorlandwader chicks

Cited by 9 publications

References 13 publications

Modelling edge effects of mature forest plantations on peatland waders informs landscape‐scale conservation

Modelling edge effects of mature forest plantations on peatland waders informs landscape‐scale conservation

Sheep tickIxodes ricinusmanagement on Welsh hill farms of designated conservation importance: implications for nationally declining birds

The effects of acaricide treatment of sheep on red grouseLagopus lagopus scoticatick burdens and productivity in a multi‐host system

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