Simulation of climate–host–parasite–landscape interactions: A spatially explicit model for ticks (Acari: Ixodidae)

Hsiao-Hsuan Wang, W.E. Grant and P.D. Teel

Ecological Modelling, 2012, vol. 243, issue C, 42-62

Abstract: Ticks (Ixodidae) are important vectors of pathogens that affect humans, and methods to reduce impacts of vector-borne pathogens usually involve tick control. Improving the efficacy of such methods requires an understanding of climate–host–parasite–landscape interactions which is difficult to obtain from empirical observations alone. We developed a spatially explicit, individual-/agent-based, stochastic model that can simulate the spatial-temporal dynamics of ticks in response to changes in climatic conditions, landscape structure, and host community composition. As a case study, we parameterized the model to represent the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum (L.)) under ecological conditions typical of the south-central United States. We evaluated general model performance and examined model sensitivity to broad changes in climatic conditions, landscape structure, and host community composition, and then demonstrated application of the model by simulating the effect of a hypothetical greenbelt placed within a real landscape near Houston, Texas, USA on the exposure of humans to ticks.

Keywords: Agent-based models; Disease vectors; Greenbelts; Population dynamics; Spatial-temporal dynamics; Stage-structured models; Ticks (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2012
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:ecomod:v:243:y:2012:i:c:p:42-62

DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2012.06.007

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