The Ecology of Ticks and their Ecological Roles
A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Ecology and Conservation".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 August 2026 | Viewed by 113
Special Issue Editor
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Approximately 900 species of ticks are currently recognized, distributed across three families (Argasidae, Ixodidae, and Nuttalliellidae). Nevertheless, the majority of research on ticks has tended to concentrate on economically and medically significant species, with emphasis on developing more effective integrated strategies for their control. Given that different tick species display varying degrees of host specificity (arising from diverse morphological adaptations and behavioral mechanisms that facilitate host location and feeding efficiency), restricting ecological studies primarily to a limited number of species—frequently, those parasitizing large mammals—inevitably risks producing inaccurate generalizations regarding tick ecology.
This Special Issue of Animals is therefore dedicated to advancing our knowledge of the ecology of comparatively neglected ticks, specifically those that primarily or exclusively parasitize wildlife. It will also address the necessity of ticks by considering the ecological functions of ticks, both directly through their own biological activities and indirectly through the pathogens they transmit.
Such insights are expected to enhance our understanding of tick ecology and thereby inform more effective management decisions. Furthermore, a deeper recognition of their ecological roles may provide greater impetus for integrating ticks into the conservation strategies of their hosts, as well as for promoting the conservation of endangered tick species.
Dr. Gerrut Norval
Guest Editor
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Keywords
- host specificity
- off-host environment
- pathogens
- biodiversity
- parasite–host interactions
- parasite conservation
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