Baseline Biodiversity Assessment of South Texas Small Mammals and Host-associated Hard Ticks with No Detection
Author(s): Aleyda P. Galán, Sarah A. Hamer, Hunter A. Folmar, Tyler A. Campbell, and Jessica E. Light
Published: June 2022
Baseline biodiversity surveys are necessary to assess organismal diversity across spatial and temporal
scales. These surveys can be particularly useful for monitoring changes in organismal diversity and pathogen spread in response to climate change. Arthropod vectors such as ticks are susceptible to geographic range shifts with a warming climate, potentially resulting in the expansion of risk areas for vector-borne disease. Biodiversity data are deficient from South Texas, which is particularly concerning given the abundance of wildlife and livestock that may be important in perpetuating tick and pathogen populations. We performed a baseline biodiversity assessment of small mammals, ticks, and tick-borne pathogens in South Texas using a combination of fieldwork, collections-based research, and molecular approaches.
Suggested Citation
Galán, A. P., S. A. Hamer, H. A. Folmar, T. A. Campbell, and J. E. Light. 2022. Baseline biodiversity assessment of South Texas small mammals and host-associated hard ticks with no detection. Western North American Naturalist 82(2). 254–270.