Date of Award
3-2025
Document Type
Thesis (Ph.D.)
Department or Program
Ecology, Evolution, Environment and Society
First Advisor
Kathryn Cottingham
Second Advisor
Matt Ayres
Third Advisor
Lauren Culler
Abstract
Tick-borne diseases are a growing concern globally. Understanding the factors that influence tick ecology and people’s understanding of that ecology is crucial for developing effective tick management and disease prevention strategies. In this work, I investigated fundamental questions about the ecology of a primary vector of medically important pathogens in the United States, the blacklegged tick Ixodes scapularis Say, and identified common misconceptions about ticks and tick-borne diseases on social media. First, I examined the effects of temperature and moisture stress on the movement of adult female I. scapularis in laboratory experiments. Using a Drosophila Activity Monitor, ticks were exposed to controlled temperatures from 10°C to 25°C and relative humidities of 75%, 84%, and 100%. The probability of tick movement responded independently and non-linearly to both temperature and vapor pressure deficit (VPD), with implications for tick activity under natural conditions. Using field observations collected over five years, I then explored how local environmental conditions influence tick host-seeking activity in Hanover, New Hampshire. I. scapularis activity was best predicted by the sampling date, habitat type (forested, edge, or meadow), and morning minimum VPD. Specifically, more host-seeking adult ticks were collected during early spring and fall, in forest and edge habitats, and when morning conditions were wetter. This fine-scale analysis highlights the importance of season- and habitat-specific strategies for reducing disease risk. Lastly, I explored public perceptions and misinformation about ticks on Facebook, recognizing that public education is a vital component of disease prevention. Misinformation was relatively rare – just 17% of 170 public posts and 2483 comments from summer 2021 contained misinformation – and predominantly related to issues with tick biology and ecology. This study underscores the need for targeted public health campaigns to dispel common misconceptions and inform the public accurately about tick prevention and control. Taken together, this work bridges ecological research and its application to public health. By integrating our understanding of the natural world and how it may change as the anthropogenic footprint increases, my work informs more effective tick management practices and public health education efforts, thereby contributing to the reduction of the burden associated with tick-borne diseases.
Recommended Citation
McDonald, Kaitlin M., "Ecology of Ixodes scapularis Say: Experimental and Observational Studies with Social Perspectives on Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases" (2025). Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations. 329.
https://digitalcommons.dartmouth.edu/dissertations/329
