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The Occurrence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato in Ixodes ricinus Ticks Collected from Nature-Educational and Tourist Trails in the Poprad Landscape Park
Throughout Europe, including Poland, Ixodes ricinus ticks are the main vector of numerous pathogenic agents that pose a serious threat to public health. Southern Poland attracts many tourists with its scenic landscapes and abundant recreational opportunities. These areas are ideal habitats for wild fauna, which serve as the main reservoirs and hosts for these pathogens and ticks. The large population and biodiversity of these hosts facilitate the proliferation of ticks. The aim of this study was to determine the potential exposure of humans to ticks and tick-borne pathogens such as Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Babesia spp., along the nature-educational and tourist trails of the Poprad Landscape Park. From 2020 to 2021, ticks were collected using the flagging method on three tourist trails and nature-educational paths within the Poprad Landscape Park. DNA was isolated from 213 I. ricinus ticks using the ammonia method. To detect pathogens in ticks, PCR and nested PCR methods were used. To detect B. burgdorferi s.l. and A. phagocytophilum, two pairs of primers specific to the flaB gene fragment and 16S rRNA gene fragment were used, respectively. For Babesia spp. detection, primers specific to the 18S rRNA gene were used. The amplification products were separated electrophoretically and visualized under ultraviolet light. In total, among the 213 examined ticks, B. burgdorferi s.l. was detected in 31% of the samples. Neither A. phagocytophilum nor Babesia spp. were detected in the studied material. These results indicate a potentially high risk of ticks and tick-borne B. burgdorferi s.l. infections for residents and tourists in the recreational areas of the Poprad Landscape Park.
Environmental role of different‐aged pine and oak stands growing on post‐agricultural and forest lands in forming the Mesostigmata mites communities
AbstractReclamation of agricultural soil and forest succession after afforestation proceeds slowly and at many levels. Therefore, the history of land use is recorded in the soil's physical, chemical and ecological parameters for many decades. This process depends on time and the form of afforestation, which primarily includes tree species. In our study, we analyzed differences in the physical and chemical characteristics of pine and oak stands on forest and post‐agricultural land at 22, 42 and 62 y/o. Our study revealed that 14 of 24 examined parameters (litter pH, soil pH, litter thickness, soil organic matter, Corg, bulk density, C/N ratio, soil moisture, soil K, Mg and Mn content, N and Ca litter content, Mg litter content) differed significantly among examined habitats (land use, stand age and tree species). We calculated the abundance, species richness and diversity of the mite communities (Acari, Mesostigmata) for each habitat type. In total, 6730 mites were classified into 72 taxa (60 species, 11 genera and one taxon as family). The highest abundance was recorded in 42 y/o. oak stands on post‐agricultural land, while the lowest is in 22 y/o. pine and oak stands on post‐agricultural land. The highest species richness and diversity were recorded in the oldest oak stand on post‐agricultural land. In contrast, the lowest diversity was recorded in the youngest oak and pine stands on post‐agricultural land. Our results demonstrate that the negative impact of the agricultural history of land use weakens over time and provides a better understanding of land use history on the relations between the soil environment and soil fauna, including mesostigmatid mite assemblages.
Dependence of Lyme disease incidence in children on environmental factors in Wielkopolska Province (West-Central Poland)
The evolutionary heritage and ecological uniqueness of Scots pine in the Caucasus ecoregion is at risk of climate changes
AbstractScots pine is one of the most widely occurring pines, but future projections suggest a large reduction in its range, mostly at the southern European limits. A significant part of its range is located in the Caucasus, a global hot-spot of diversity. Pine forests are an important reservoir of biodiversity and endemism in this region. We explored demographic and biogeographical processes that shaped the genetic diversity of Scots pine in the Caucasus ecoregion and its probable future distribution under different climate scenarios. We found that the high genetic variability of the Caucasian populations mirrors a complex glacial and postglacial history that had a unique evolutionary trajectory compared to the main range in Europe. Scots pine currently grows under a broad spectrum of climatic conditions in the Caucasus, which implies high adaptive potential in the past. However, the current genetic resources of Scots pine are under high pressure from climate change. From our predictions, over 90% of the current distribution of Scots pine may be lost in this century. By threatening the stability of the forest ecosystems, this would dramatically affect the biodiversity of the Caucasus hot-spot.
The potential risk of human exposure to tick borne infection by Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, and Babesia microti in selected recreational areas of the Poprad Landscape Park in southern Poland
Soil mite communities (Acari, Mesostigmata) in pure stands on post-agricultural lands: does season matter?
AbstractPost-agricultural land differs from typical forest land in physical, chemical and biological features. In addition, the environment of this land type is determined, among other things, by the introduced tree species. These differences may be revealed by the biodiversity and abundance of the soil fauna. We analysed the abundance, species richness and diversity of different instars of mesostigmatid mites inhabiting three different habitat types on post-agricultural land (shaped by pure Pinus sylvestris L., Tilia cordata Mill. and Betula pendula Roth stands). We collected 288 soil samples from eight plots in three stands. The collection was conducted in July and October in two consecutive vegetation seasons (2021 and 2022) for Mesostigmata mites community. Soil characteristics (determination of soil group and analysis of physical and chemical properties of soil and litter) were done in July 2021. In total, 399 individuals (266 females, 50 males and 83 juveniles) were classified into 38 taxa (33 species, five genera). Most individuals belonged to the Parasitidae, Laelapidae and Veigaiidae families. The most abundant species were Hypoaspis aculeifer (Canestini) (21.6% of all recorded mites), Veigaia nemorensis (C.L.Koch) (7.8%) and Trachytes aegrota (C.L.Koch) (7.0%). Abundance, species richness and diversity were shaped by collection month and Fe content in soil. The abundance was influenced by N litter content and was significantly lower in P. sylvestris stand in July (0.57 ± 0.23; mean ± SE) than in P. sylvestris (2.17 ± 0.54) and T. cordata (2.15 ± 0.48) stands in October. Moreover, abundance in P. sylvestris stand in October was higher than in B. pendula stand in July (0.78 ± 0.26). Similarly, species richness was significantly lower in P. sylvestris stand in July than in P. sylvestris and T. cordata stands in October (2.17 ± 0.54 and 2.15 ± 0.48, respectively). Higher Shannon’s diversity of mite communities was reported in P. sylvestris stand in October (0.40 ± 0.10) than in P. sylvestris and B. pendula stands in July (0.12 ± 0.06 and 0.14 ± 0.08, respectively). Large fluctuations of abundance, species richness and diversity of soil mite communities in P. sylvestris and B. pendula stands between collection months give the insights for creating mixed stands on post-agricultural land. It is worth noticing that the wet season creates the most favourable living environment for mesostigmatid mites in P. sylvestris litter.
Impact of land use history and soil properties on soil mite communities (Acari, Mesostigmata) inhabiting stands growing on post‐agricultural land
AbstractDecades of agriculture in a former—type of ecosystem, for example, deciduous forests—result in severe habitat degradation. The planted tree species encounter harsh conditions due to physically and chemically transformed soil environments. In addition, afforestation itself significantly modifies the upper soil horizons. It may impact the soil fauna communities, including mites from the Mesostigmata order (Mesostigmata = Gamasida). Due to their sensitivity, mesostigmatid mites are good bioindicators of changes in the soil. A decrease in the density, species richness, and diversity of mites indicates disturbances in the soil environment and may confirm the impact of agricultural practice on the soil environment. Our research aim was to examine the impact of soil properties and land use history on the mesostigmatid mite communities in stands growing on forest and post‐agricultural lands. These sites were afforested with different tree species (Betula pendula Roth., Fagus sylvatica L., Pinus sylvestris L., and Quercus robur L.). Thus, 21 research plots were established on forest and post‐agricultural land, each on rusty soils considered to be one of the most common in Central European forests. We collected a total of 567 soil samples during three sampling sessions in spring and autumn for soil Mesostigmata investigation. We also described the soil profile on each plot and collected soil and litter samples to measure pH, litter thickness, soil organic matter, bulk density, soil moisture, soil organic carbon, and elements content. Our study revealed that 16 out of 30 environmental parameters differed between habitat types. A total of 1355 mites were classified into 58 taxa (50 species and 8 genera). The most numerous species were Veigaia nemorensis (165 ind.; 12.2% of all mesostigmatid mites), Zercon peltatus (156; 11.5%), and Paragamasus conus (141; 10.4%). The highest abundance was recorded in birch stands on forest land, whereas the lowest abundance for oak stands growing on post‐agricultural land. Interestingly, in oak stands we recorded both the highest diversity of mite communities (forest land) and the lowest on post‐agricultural land. Furthermore, our study showed that post‐agricultural land and Na content in forest litter affected the abundance, species richness, and diversity of mesostigmatid mite communities. Species richness was additionally affected by tree species, that is, pine and oak. Our research indicated that long‐term agricultural practice negatively affected the density, species richness, and diversity of Mesostigmata communities 20 years after afforestation.