Climate and the Parasite Paradox: Tick-Host Networks Depend on Gradients of Environmental Overlap.

ABSTRACT: This study investigates how climate gradients shape tick-host associations, testing the hypothesis that variations in climate leverage some associations, which can be ecosystem-specific. To test this hypothesis, we modelled tick-host associations across the Western Palearctic using climatic variables and a large dataset of georeferenced tick (seven species, n = 23,462) and vertebrate host records (n = 6.5 million across 162 species aggregated into 50 genera). Niche overlap with hosts is highly variable but consistently significant (p < 0.05) in every tested ecosystem of the target territory. Montane grasslands exhibit the lowest values of tick-host niche overlap, meaning that they support the smallest but still resilient set of available hosts. Host phylogenetic divers

SUBMITTER: Estrada-Pena A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12567382 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature