Laboratory of Forestry, Department of Forest and Water Management, Ghent University, Geraardsbergsesteenweg 267, 9090, Melle-Gontrode, Belgium.
Exp Appl Acarol. 2011 Jul;54(3):285-92. doi: 10.1007/s10493-011-9444-6. Epub 2011 Mar 24.
Estimating the spatial and temporal variation in tick abundance is of great economical and ecological importance. Entire-blanket dragging is the most widely used method to sample free-living ixodid ticks. However, this technique is not equally efficient in different vegetation types. The height and structure of the vegetation under study will not only determine the likelihood of a tick-blanket contact, but will also determine the rate of dislodgement. The purpose of this study was therefore to determine whether the alternative strip-blanket is more effectively in picking up ticks than the standard entire-blanket. Sampling was carried out in four forest understory vegetation types that differed in height and structure on five collection dates between April and September 2008. A total of 8,068 Ixodes ricinus ticks was collected (778 adults, 1,920 nymphs, and 5,370 larvae). The highest numbers of ticks were collected along the forest trails, where the dominant vegetation consisted of short grasses. The lowest numbers of ticks were collected in bracken-fern-dominated sites, where the vegetation seriously hampered tick sampling. Surprisingly, in each vegetation type, significantly more nymphs and adults were collected using the entire-blanket. However, the strip-blanket was more effectively in collecting larvae, especially in dense and tall vegetation.
估算蜱虫密度的时空变化具有重要的经济和生态意义。全面拖拽是最广泛用于采集游离壁虱的方法。然而，这种技术在不同的植被类型中效率并不相同。研究中植被的高度和结构不仅决定了蜱虫与毯子接触的可能性，还决定了脱落的速度。因此，本研究的目的是确定替代的条状毯子是否比标准的全面毯子更有效地采集蜱虫。采样于 2008 年 4 月至 9 月的五个采集日期在四个不同高度和结构的森林下层植被类型中进行。共采集了 8068 只伊氏革蜱（778 只成虫，1920 只若虫和 5370 只幼虫）。蜱虫数量最多的是在森林小径沿线，那里的主要植被是短草。在以蕨类植物为主的地方采集到的蜱虫数量最少，那里的植被严重阻碍了蜱虫的采样。令人惊讶的是，在每种植被类型中，使用全面毯子采集到的若虫和成虫数量明显更多。然而，条状毯子在采集幼虫方面更有效，尤其是在密集和高大的植被中。
