Landscape heterogeneity, forest structure and mammalian host diversity shape Ixodes ricinus density and Borrelia prevalence in German forests
Sara Weilage, Max Müller, Lara Maria Inge Heyse, Dana Rüster, Manfred Ayasse, Martin Pfeffer, Anna Obiegala
The study examines how landscape heterogeneity, forest structure, and mammalian host diversity affect Ixodes ricinus density and Borrelia prevalence in German forests, supporting the dilution effect hypothesis.
bioRxiv · May 13, 2025 · PreprintEcology