Habitat Type-Based Assemblage and Distribution Prediction of Small Mammals and Chigger Mites (Acari: Trombiculidae) in Chuncheon City, Republic of Korea
While urbanization leads to habitat loss for medium and large mammals, small mammals can survive in fragmented habitats. As they are known to be the primary hosts of chigger mites (Acari: Trombiculidae) that transmit scrub typhus, their habitat can be considered the primary distribution area for chi...
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2024-11-01
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| author | Kiyoon Kim Jusun Hwang Kyungmin Kim Kwangbae Yoon Daehyun Oh Yungchul Park |
| author_facet | Kiyoon Kim Jusun Hwang Kyungmin Kim Kwangbae Yoon Daehyun Oh Yungchul Park |
| author_sort | Kiyoon Kim |
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| description | While urbanization leads to habitat loss for medium and large mammals, small mammals can survive in fragmented habitats. As they are known to be the primary hosts of chigger mites (Acari: Trombiculidae) that transmit scrub typhus, their habitat can be considered the primary distribution area for chigger mites. This study aims to examine the distribution of small mammals and chigger mites in four habitat types and analyzed species richness, mean intensity (MI), dominance, and infestation rate (IR). A total of six small mammal species were captured, 76.8% of which were identified as <i>Apodemus agrarius</i>. Species richness of small mammals was highest in forests, followed by ecotones, grasslands, and agricultural lands. <i>Apodemus agrarius</i> accounted for 61% of the captures in forests, 80% in ecotones, 84% in grasslands, and 50% in agricultural lands, highlighting its varying dominance across habitat types. The MI of chigger mites was higher in grasslands (215.41 ± 20.70) and ecotones (171.67 ± 30.33) and lower in forests (76.67 ± 32.11). The MI of chigger mites was higher in the fall than that in the spring, and according to the MaxEnt model, they had a narrow, dense distribution in the fall and a wide distribution in the spring. These results suggest that inducing increased species richness of small mammalian hosts by habitat management and vegetation diversification may contribute to a reduction in the MI of chigger mites. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-09f0feb5a6564b7b98235989f3beeb08 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2076-2615 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Animals |
| spelling | doaj-art-09f0feb5a6564b7b98235989f3beeb082024-12-13T16:21:11ZengMDPI AGAnimals2076-26152024-11-011423343310.3390/ani14233433Habitat Type-Based Assemblage and Distribution Prediction of Small Mammals and Chigger Mites (Acari: Trombiculidae) in Chuncheon City, Republic of KoreaKiyoon Kim0Jusun Hwang1Kyungmin Kim2Kwangbae Yoon3Daehyun Oh4Yungchul Park5College of Veterinary Medicine, Chungbuk National University, Cheongju 28644, Republic of KoreaDivision of Forest Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of KoreaInterdisciplinary Program of Eco Creative, Ewha Womans University, Seoul 03760, Republic of KoreaNational Institute of Ecology, Yeongyang 36531, Republic of KoreaDepartment of ICT convergence, Hansei University, Gunpo 15852, Republic of KoreaDivision of Forest Science, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon 24341, Republic of KoreaWhile urbanization leads to habitat loss for medium and large mammals, small mammals can survive in fragmented habitats. As they are known to be the primary hosts of chigger mites (Acari: Trombiculidae) that transmit scrub typhus, their habitat can be considered the primary distribution area for chigger mites. This study aims to examine the distribution of small mammals and chigger mites in four habitat types and analyzed species richness, mean intensity (MI), dominance, and infestation rate (IR). A total of six small mammal species were captured, 76.8% of which were identified as <i>Apodemus agrarius</i>. Species richness of small mammals was highest in forests, followed by ecotones, grasslands, and agricultural lands. <i>Apodemus agrarius</i> accounted for 61% of the captures in forests, 80% in ecotones, 84% in grasslands, and 50% in agricultural lands, highlighting its varying dominance across habitat types. The MI of chigger mites was higher in grasslands (215.41 ± 20.70) and ecotones (171.67 ± 30.33) and lower in forests (76.67 ± 32.11). The MI of chigger mites was higher in the fall than that in the spring, and according to the MaxEnt model, they had a narrow, dense distribution in the fall and a wide distribution in the spring. These results suggest that inducing increased species richness of small mammalian hosts by habitat management and vegetation diversification may contribute to a reduction in the MI of chigger mites.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/23/3433small mammals<i>Apodemus agrarius</i>chigger mitehabitatMaxEnt |
| spellingShingle | Kiyoon Kim Jusun Hwang Kyungmin Kim Kwangbae Yoon Daehyun Oh Yungchul Park Habitat Type-Based Assemblage and Distribution Prediction of Small Mammals and Chigger Mites (Acari: Trombiculidae) in Chuncheon City, Republic of Korea Animals small mammals <i>Apodemus agrarius</i> chigger mite habitat MaxEnt |
| title | Habitat Type-Based Assemblage and Distribution Prediction of Small Mammals and Chigger Mites (Acari: Trombiculidae) in Chuncheon City, Republic of Korea |
| title_full | Habitat Type-Based Assemblage and Distribution Prediction of Small Mammals and Chigger Mites (Acari: Trombiculidae) in Chuncheon City, Republic of Korea |
| title_fullStr | Habitat Type-Based Assemblage and Distribution Prediction of Small Mammals and Chigger Mites (Acari: Trombiculidae) in Chuncheon City, Republic of Korea |
| title_full_unstemmed | Habitat Type-Based Assemblage and Distribution Prediction of Small Mammals and Chigger Mites (Acari: Trombiculidae) in Chuncheon City, Republic of Korea |
| title_short | Habitat Type-Based Assemblage and Distribution Prediction of Small Mammals and Chigger Mites (Acari: Trombiculidae) in Chuncheon City, Republic of Korea |
| title_sort | habitat type based assemblage and distribution prediction of small mammals and chigger mites acari trombiculidae in chuncheon city republic of korea |
| topic | small mammals <i>Apodemus agrarius</i> chigger mite habitat MaxEnt |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/14/23/3433 |
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