Abstract
Simple SummaryEcological corridors are zones of natural vegetation, which connect with other vegetation strips to create migration routes and provide shelter for animals. One of the longest ecological corridors in eastern Poland runs along the Wieprz River valley. We examined the occurrence and relative abundance of Dermacentor reticulatus in research plots established in the river valley and confirmed the presence of this tick species in each of the seven examined sites. The results of our research show that the habitats of the river ecological corridor can be regarded as preferred habitats of D. reticulatus in eastern Poland.Ecological corridors are zones of natural vegetation, which connect with other vegetation strips to create migration routes for animals and plants. The aim of our study was to investigate the occurrence and relative abundance of Dermacentor reticulatus in various habitats of the ecological corridor of the Wieprz River in eastern Poland. Ticks were collected using the flagging method in seven sites within the ecological corridor of the Wieprz River, i.e., one of the longest uninterrupted vegetation strips in eastern Poland. The presence of D. reticulatus adults was confirmed in each of the examined sites. The autumn peak of tick activity dominated in most plots. During this period, on average up to 309.7 individuals were collected within 30-min. The results of our study show that, due to the high abundance of local D. reticulatus populations, the habitats located in the ecological corridor of the Wieprz River can be regarded as preferred habitats of this tick species.
Highlights
Ecological corridors are zones of natural vegetation located mainly along river valleys, mountain ranges, and forest complexes
D. reticulatus adults were collected throughout the study period
The results indicate a negative correlation between the number of collected ticks and air temperature
Summary
Ecological corridors are zones of natural vegetation located mainly along river valleys, mountain ranges, and forest complexes. They serve as migration routes for animals, plants, and fungi. By connecting with other vegetation belts, they create an uninterrupted network providing shelter for animals and enabling them to acquire food and raise their offspring [1]. They are extremely important, given the progressive fragmentation of the environment caused by human activity [2]. Ecological corridors with national, regional, and even continental importance are being established [4,5].
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