Do living things influence the pattern of tick-borne diseases?
The researchers involved in the voluntary reporting project studying the patterns in tick-borne diseases realized that this was a very complex problem that may involve even more factors. They decided to enlist the help of an environmental scientist. Environmental scientists use their knowledge of science to protect the environment. They gather data and monitor environmental conditions related to ecosystems, which are an intertwined web of interacting abiotic and biotic factors. The environmental scientist explained that ticks are part of a complex system of interactions. Models are a way to visualize interactions within an ecosystem. Scientists use models to help answer the question, “Are biotic factors in the ecosystem involved in the pattern of tick-borne diseases?”
The researchers involved in the voluntary reporting project studying the patterns in tick-borne diseases realized that this was a very complex problem that may involve even more factors. They decided to enlist the help of an environmental scientist. Environmental scientists use their knowledge of science to protect the environment. They gather data and monitor environmental conditions related to ecosystems, which are an intertwined web of interacting abiotic and biotic factors. The environmental scientist explained that ticks are part of a complex system of interactions. Models are a way to visualize interactions within an ecosystem. Scientists use models to help answer the question, “Are biotic factors in the ecosystem involved in the pattern of tick-borne diseases?”
Click HERE to view questions 1-3
Click HERE to view questions 1-3
1. According to the Complex Interactions Model, what organism is eaten by immature ticks?
1. According to the Complex Interactions Model, what organism is eaten by immature ticks?
2. What effect would an increase in acorns have on the number of ticks in the environment? Explain.
2. What effect would an increase in acorns have on the number of ticks in the environment? Explain.
3. What effect would an increase in the number of small mammal predators have on the number of ticks?
3. What effect would an increase in the number of small mammal predators have on the number of ticks?
Record your responses to questions 1-3 in your digital notebook.
Then return to learn about the steps to infection.
Scroll Down for the Steps to Infection in the Complex Interactions Model. Use this updated model to identify where the bacteria that causes Lyme disease is transferred to the tick.
Additional Information: Deer are also part of this complex system. Adult ticks meet, reproduce, and lay eggs on the deer. The eggs hatch, making the deer a “nursery” for immature ticks. Once the immature ticks are large enough, they leave the deer to seek other hosts. Because small mammals like chipmunks carry large numbers of bacterial organisms in their body, the ticks are able to likely to pick up bacteria from these hosts that can cause diseases.
Additional Information: Deer are also part of this complex system. Adult ticks meet, reproduce, and lay eggs on the deer. The eggs hatch, making the deer a “nursery” for immature ticks. Once the immature ticks are large enough, they leave the deer to seek other hosts. Because small mammals like chipmunks carry large numbers of bacterial organisms in their body, the ticks are able to likely to pick up bacteria from these hosts that can cause diseases.
Click Here to see if you found where the bacteria that causes Lyme disease is transferred to the tick,
then scroll down to questions 4-5.
Remember to record your responses to questions 4-5 in your digital notebook. Then click Next Page
Click HERE to view questions 4-5
Click HERE to view questions 4-5
4. Use the information from the two diagrams to explain how Daisy and her owner were most likely exposed to Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. Using the list provided in your digital lab notebook, write numbers (2-8) on the lines to place the events in the correct order. Number 1 and 9 have been provided below.
4. Use the information from the two diagrams to explain how Daisy and her owner were most likely exposed to Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacteria that causes Lyme disease. Using the list provided in your digital lab notebook, write numbers (2-8) on the lines to place the events in the correct order. Number 1 and 9 have been provided below.
____ Immature tick feeds on chipmunk.
____ Immature tick feeds on chipmunk.
____ Ticks bite Daisy and her owner.
____ Ticks bite Daisy and her owner.
1 Adult ticks mate on deer.
1 Adult ticks mate on deer.
____ Immature ticks leave deer to find a small mammal host.
____ Immature ticks leave deer to find a small mammal host.
____ Tick leaves small mammal host, waits for new host on plants.
____ Tick leaves small mammal host, waits for new host on plants.
____ Bacteria is transferred from chipmunk to tick.
____ Bacteria is transferred from chipmunk to tick.
____ Immature ticks hatch from eggs on deer.
____ Immature ticks hatch from eggs on deer.
____ Ticks leave the plant for a dog or human host.
____ Ticks leave the plant for a dog or human host.
9 Tick bites transfer bacteria to Daisy and her owner
9 Tick bites transfer bacteria to Daisy and her owner
5. People often read in the newspaper that when deer populations are high, there is an increased risk for tick-borne diseases. Explain why a large deer population may increase the transmission of tick-borne diseases.
5. People often read in the newspaper that when deer populations are high, there is an increased risk for tick-borne diseases. Explain why a large deer population may increase the transmission of tick-borne diseases.