Current sika deer effective population size is near to reaching its historically highest level in the Japanese archipelago by release from hunting rather than climate change and top predator extinction

The Holocene, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 33(6), P. 718 - 727

Published: March 9, 2023

Deer species were repeatedly overexploited and protected for their meat fur they had strong impacts on ecosystems human society by damaging crops planted trees, altering vegetation, deer vehicle collision, increasing ticks that vector zoonosis. To accomplish appropriate population management, the historical demography its main driver need to be clarified. In this study, we estimated of effective size ( Ne) sika Cervus nippon Temminck) in Hokkaido Hyogo Prefectures Japanese archipelago. We Ne >100 generations from present (2020) folded single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) frequency spectra and, within 100 present, linkage disequilibrium between SNP. Hokkaido, drastically increased around 3.0 ky BP decreased 100–150 years ago with assumption generation length as 4 or 9 years. The a 10th before recent bottleneck. Hyogo, 80 1 100–250 ago. 100th After these bottlenecks, both regions recovered current has nearly reaches highest level last BP. Literature survey paleoclimate indicates decrease increase archipelago may caused variations hunting activity humans rather than climate change top predator extinction.

Language: Английский

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The Impact of Vegetation Changes in Savanna Ecosystems on Tick Populations in Wildlife: Implications for Ecosystem Management

Diversity, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 17(5), P. 314 - 314

Published: April 26, 2025

Vegetation changes in savanna ecosystems are playing an increasingly important role shaping tick populations and the spread of tick-borne diseases, with consequences for both wildlife livestock health. This study examines how factors such as climate variability, land use, vegetation structures, host availability influence survival, distribution, behavior. As grasslands degrade woody plants become more dominant, ticks finding suitable habitats, often supported by microclimatic conditions that favor their development. At same time, increased contact between domestic wild animals is facilitating transmission pathogens. review highlights seasonal patterns, fire regimes, grazing pressure, change driving shifts activity expanding geographical range. These increase risk disease humans alike. Addressing these challenges calls integrated management strategies include control, population monitoring, sustainable vector control methods. A holistic approach connects ecological, animal, human health perspectives essential effective prevention long-term ecosystem management.

Language: Английский

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Forest Fragmentation and Warmer Climate Increase Tick-Borne Disease Infection

EcoHealth, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 26, 2025

Language: Английский

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The range of large terrestrial mammals has expanded into human-dominated landscapes in Japan

Communications Earth & Environment, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 6(1)

Published: April 16, 2025

Language: Английский

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Environmental and host factors underlying tick infestation in invasive raccoons (Procyon lotor) in Hokkaido, Japan

Ticks and Tick-borne Diseases, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15(6), P. 102389 - 102389

Published: Aug. 13, 2024

Revealing interactions between ticks and wild animals is vital for gaining insights into the dynamics of tick-borne pathogens in natural environment. We aimed to elucidate factors that determine tick infestation by investigating on invasive raccoons (Procyon lotor) Hokkaido, Japan. first examined composition, intensity, seasonal variation infesting six study areas Hokkaido from March 2022 August 2023. In one area, tanukis (raccoon dog, Nyctereutes procyonoides albus) were collected May July both 2023, questing vegetation flagging every other week same period. Next, we screened 17 environmental host variables affect number using generalized linear (mixed) models. From 245 raccoons, identified a total 3,917 belonging eight species two genera: most prominent Ixodes ovatus (52.9 %), followed Haemaphysalis megaspinosa (14.4 tanuki (10.6 persulcatus (9.5 %). was also predominant among tanukis. Although I. frequently tanukis, it rarely field. The significantly affected differed genus, developmental stage tick. For instance, adult four variables: night-time temperature during nine days before capturing raccoon, size forest area around capture site, sex sampling season. responsible almost all stages ticks. Our revealed composition can be not only landscape their habitats but weather conditions several capturing.

Language: Английский

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An Integrated Approach to an Emerging Problem: Implementing a Whole Year of Camera Trap Survey in Evaluating the Impact of Wildlife on Tick Abundance

Transboundary and Emerging Diseases, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 2024(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

Tick‐borne zoonoses are an emerging health issue. The expansion of ticks is mainly driven by climatic changes but also new approaches to the management natural environment, increasing abundance vertebrate host species and thus potential exposure tick bites for both humans companion animals. In this context, a holistic approach studying ticks’ ecology required. present work, we shed light on link between environmental (global specific Ixodes ricinus nymphs, as highest zoonotic threat) temporal occupancy wildlife retrieved from camera traps (namely, wild ruminants, mesocarnivores boar). We modelled relationship integrating abiotic factors relevant survival, such vegetation cover saturation deficit, estimated accuracy prediction. To collect these data, deployed in peri‐urban Natural Park Northwest Italy monitor 1 whole year while collecting front dragging transects every 2 weeks. Overall, showed additive impact that preferential hosts (deer mesocarnivores) detractive boar, which presented lower burden, particularly with regard collected environment (mainly I. Haemaphysalis punctata ). Accuracy prediction was higher nymphs rather than global model. Temporal fluctuations population were highlighted. Wildlife not constant varied seasons according feeding habits. conclusion, highlighted utility trap data investigate acarological risk. This information crucial informing monitoring prevention strategies decrease risk tick‐borne diseases.

Language: Английский

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Relating Wildlife Camera Trap Data to Tick Abundance: Testing the Relationship in Different Habitats

Animals, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 14(18), P. 2749 - 2749

Published: Sept. 23, 2024

The increase in acarological risk of tick bites is significantly driven by profound changes landscape, which alter the density and distribution wildlife that support populations. As a result habitat shifts land abandonment, create environments conducive to proliferation, disease transmission humans animals increasing. In this context, it important explore ecology applying comprehensive methodology. study, we examined relationship between temporal occupancy abundance two distinct regions: an alpine hunting district natural park Apennines. For each sampling point, calculated from camera trap pictures estimated ticks’ dragging transects area immediately surrounding traps. modelling those variables, included abiotic factors such as saturation deficit, normalized difference vegetation index, altitude. Results show importance altitude (itself related different management characteristics) on questing ticks. If employed decisions for environments, information useful modulate thus tick-borne pathogens’ transmission.

Language: Английский

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Seasonal infestation patterns of ticks on Hokkaido sika deer (Cervus nippon yesoensis)

Parasitology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 1 - 9

Published: Nov. 15, 2024

Ticks prefer specific feeding sites on a host that are influenced by host–tick and tick–tick interactions. This study focused the spatiotemporal distribution of ticks in Hokkaido sika deer, an important tick Hokkaido, Japan. Tick sampling was performed deer Shiretoko National Park between June October 2022. were collected from 9 different body parts to compare their attachment site preferences. Interspecific intraspecific relationships among examined using co-occurrence analysis. The nymphal adult stages 4 species:

Language: Английский

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Abundance Trends of Immature Stages of Ticks at Different Distances from Hiking Trails from a Natural Park in North-Western Italy

Veterinary Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 11(10), P. 508 - 508

Published: Oct. 15, 2024

Hiking trails may act as hotspots at the wildlife-human interface, posing an acarological risk for people and their pets. Ticks that are maintained in environment by wild animals quest on walking along trails. Assessing of tick bites involved outdoor activities is a further step mitigating tick-borne diseases. This work describes variation abundance gradient distances from hiking trails, where wildlife passage favored higher accessibility. with dense vegetation sides were sampled ticks 100 m dragging transect, located natural park North-Western Italy. Additional transects replicated 1, 2 4 away trail both sides. After morphological identification, descriptive statistics modeling applied to determine patterns across distances. Larvae most abundant near trail, peaking 1 dropping sharply Nymphs showed more gradual consistent decrease progressing distance trail. Few adults collected, preventing identification clear trend. With abundance, immediate vicinity represent source humans

Language: Английский

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Prediction of the visit and occupy of the sika deer (Cervus nippon) during the summer season using a virtual ecological approach

Scientific Reports, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 13(1)

Published: March 10, 2023

Abstract Prediction of the spaces used by animals is an important component wildlife management, but requires detailed information such as animal visit and occupy in a short span target species. Computational simulation often employed effective economical approach. In this study, sika deer ( Cervus nippon ) during plant growing season were predicted using virtual ecological A model was established to predict based on indices their food resources. The results validated against data collected from camera trapping system. study conducted May November 2018 northern Kanto region Japan. predictive performance kernel normalized difference vegetation index (kNDVI) relatively high earlier season, whereas that landscape structure low. combination kNDVI later season. Unfortunately, could not November. use both models, depending month, achieved best movements deer.

Language: Английский

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