1998: gypsy moth outbreaks and Lyme disease risk.

2005-10-26 12:17:25 AM
1: Science. 1998 Feb 13;279(5353):1023-6. Related Articles, Links
Comment in:
Science. 1998 Feb 13;279(5353):984-5.
Science. 1998 Jul 17;281(5375):349-50.
Science. 1998 Mar 20;279(5358):1831,1833.
Chain reactions linking acorns to gypsy moth outbreaks and Lyme disease
risk.
Jones CG, Ostfeld RS, Richard MP, Schauber EM, Wolff JO.
Institute of Ecosystem Studies (IES), Post Office Box AB, Millbrook, NY
12545, USA. clivegjones@compuserve.com
In eastern U.S. oak forests, defoliation by gypsy moths and the risk of
Lyme disease are determined by interactions among acorns, white-footed
mice, moths, deer, and ticks. Experimental removal of mice, which eat
moth pupae, demonstrated that moth outbreaks are caused by reductions
in mouse density that occur when there are no acorns. Experimental
acorn addition increased mouse density. Acorn addition also increased
densities of black-legged ticks, evidently by attracting deer, which
are key tick hosts. Mice are primarily responsible for infecting ticks
with the Lyme disease agent. The results have important implications
for predicting and managing forest health and human health.
PMID: 9461433 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-