Ecosystems

Poster

The ecosystem stage upon which the story of the tick unfolds.

Climate and land-use change are shifting where ticks and their hosts can survive. Warmer winters, longer summers, and higher humidity extend tick activity and let both invasive and local species move northward, uphill, and into new habitats.

Wildlife migrations, livestock transport, pets at field edges, and people hiking or relocating all help ticks spread across landscapes. Healthy, biodiverse ecosystems regulate tick populations through predators, competitors, and balanced host communities, helping reduce disease risk and guide actions that protect both public health and nature.