University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Environmental drivers of gulf coast tick range expansion in the United States

Flenniken, J. Matthew

Content Files
FLENNIKEN-THESIS-2021.pdf

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/113851

Description

Title
Environmental drivers of gulf coast tick range expansion in the United States
Author(s)
Flenniken, J. Matthew
Issue Date
2021-11-24
Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)
Allan, Brian F
Committee Member(s)
  • Stone, Chris M
  • Tuten, Holly C
  • Vineer, Hannah R
Department of Study
Entomology
Discipline
Entomology
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
M.S.
Degree Level
Thesis
Date of Ingest
2022-04-29T21:34:29Z
Keyword(s)
  • Amblyomma maculatum
  • Rickettsia parkeri
  • tick-borne disease
  • distribution
  • ecological niche modeling
Abstract
In the United States, the Gulf Coast tick (Amblyomma maculatum) is a species of growing medical and veterinary significance, serving as the primary vector of the pathogenic bacterium, Rickettsia parkeri, in humans and the apicomplexan parasite, Hepatozoon americanum, in canines. Ongoing reports of A. maculatum from areas outside its core distribution in the southeastern United States suggest the possibility of current and continuing range expansion. Using an ecological niche modeling approach, I combined new occurrence records with high-resolution climate and land cover data to investigate environmental drivers of the current distribution of A. maculatum in the United States. I found that environmental suitability for A. maculatum varied regionally and was primarily driven by climatic factors such as annual temperature variation and seasonality of precipitation. I also found that presence of A. maculatum was associated with open habitat with minimal canopy cover. My model predicts large areas beyond the current distribution of A. maculatum to be environmentally suitable, suggesting the possibility of future northward and westward range expansion. These predictions of environmental suitability may be used to identify areas at potential risk for establishment and to guide future surveillance of A. maculatum in the United States.
Graduation Semester
2021-12
Type of Resource
Thesis
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/113851
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2021 J. Flenniken

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