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Ticks: issues and changes

Seminar
14 January 2014, 4pm: Free
at the James Hutton Institute, Aberdeen AB15 8QH
for scientists, students and other interested parties
Image showing Adult tick with nymphs - a ruler is shown for scale

"Ticks – issues and changes" will be the topic for this Aberdeen Entomological Club talk at the Aberdeen site of the James Hutton Institute to be given by Dr Lucy Gilbert of the James Hutton Institute.

Abstract

There are many species of tick in the UK, but the sheep tick Ixodes ricinus is the most ubiquitous, being a generalist, feeding on almost all terrestrial vertebrates, including livestock, dogs and humans. Ixodes ricinus is also frequently in the media limelight as the most important vector of zoonotic disease-causing pathogens in Europe.

It is increasing in abundance and distribution in many areas, especially at higher altitudes and latitudes, along with an increased incidence of tick-borne diseases such as Lyme borreliosis and tick-borne encephalitis.

This talk discusses some of the latest scientific findings of the impact of current environmental changes such as climate warming and land use change policies on ticks and tick-borne disease risk. It also explores avenues for mitigation and control, including highlighting some political and environmental issues stemming from control attempts.

Biography

Lucy is an animal ecologist in the Ecological Sciences Group with an interest in the impacts of environmental changes on certain parameters of biodiversity, particularly ticks, tick-borne pathogens and birds. She also conducts research on how to control ticks and tick-borne diseases.

The talks begin at 4pm with light refreshments available from 3.30pm. For further information contact Jenni Stockan.


Printed from /events/ticks-issues-and-changes on 28/03/24 04:47:08 PM

The James Hutton Research Institute is the result of the merger in April 2011 of MLURI and SCRI. This merger formed a new powerhouse for research into food, land use, and climate change.