Heath's tick (Ixodes heathi) is a critically endangered invertebrate native to the Australian alps. It has a close symbiotic relationship with the mountain pygmy possum, and is believed to depend on this species for its survival.
Heath’s tick is named after the New Zealand parasitologist Allen C.G. Heath.[1]
Ecologyedit
The ecology of Heath’s tick is poorly known. However, it has been suggested that this species may be a nest dwelling species which utilises the dens of the mountain pygmy possum to avoid the freezing winters of the Australian alps. Heath’s tick, and its closest relatives Ixodes riscicollaris and Ixodes goliath all occupy habitats with relictual cool, wet Gondwanan climates at high altitudes.[2]
The mountain pygmy possum relies on the fruits of the mountain plum-pine (Podocarpus lawrencei) as a seasonal food source.[3] However, feral horses and deer have caused this plant to decline due to over-grazing.[4] The decline of the mountain pygmy possum, due to decline of the mountain plum-pine, could cause Heath’s tick to become extinct, an example of a trophic cascade.[1] The fragmentation of populations of mountain pygmy possums and Heath’s ticks may result in inbreeding and stochastic events (such as fires) resulting on localised extinction of individual populations.[5] At present Heath’s tick is known from the Australian state of Victoria where it has only been collected on Mt. Higginbotham (the type locality) and on Mt. Loch.[2]
Referencesedit
^ abKwak, Mackenzie L (6 February 2019). "Meet Australia's Newest Species: An Endangered Tick". The Revelator. Center for Biological Diversity. Retrieved 26 April 2021.
^ abKwak, M.K.; Madden, C.; Wicker, L (2018). "Ixodes heathi n. sp.(Acari: Ixodidae), a co-endangered tick from the critically endangered mountain pygmy possum (Burramys parvus), with notes on its biology and conservation". Experimental and Applied Acarology. 76 (3): 413–419. doi:10.1007/s10493-018-0312-5. PMID 30302626. S2CID 52945250.
^Gibson, R.K.; Broome, L.; Hutchinson, M.F (2018). "Susceptibility to climate change via effects on food resources: the feeding ecology of the endangered mountain pygmy-possum (Burramys parvus)". Wildlife Research. 45 (6): 539–550. doi:10.1071/WR17186. S2CID 91985334.
^Good, R.; Johnston, S. (2019). "Rehabilitation and revegetation of the Kosciuszko summit area, following the removal of grazing–An historic review". Ecological Management & Restoration. 20 (1): 13–20. doi:10.1111/emr.12363.
^Mitrovski, P.; Heinze, D.A.; Broome, L.; Hoffmann, A.A.; Weeks, A.R. (2007). "High levels of variation despite genetic fragmentation in populations of the endangered mountain pygmy-possum, Burramys parvus, in alpine Australia". Molecular Ecology. 16 (1): 75–87. doi:10.1111/j.1365-294X.2006.03125.x. PMID 17181722. S2CID 30603949.
February 27, 2024
ixodes, heathi, heath, tick, critically, endangered, invertebrate, native, australian, alps, close, symbiotic, relationship, with, mountain, pygmy, possum, believed, depend, this, species, survival, scientific, classificationdomain, eukaryotakingdom, animaliap. Heath s tick Ixodes heathi is a critically endangered invertebrate native to the Australian alps It has a close symbiotic relationship with the mountain pygmy possum and is believed to depend on this species for its survival Ixodes heathiScientific classificationDomain EukaryotaKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ArthropodaSubphylum ChelicerataClass ArachnidaOrder IxodidaFamily IxodidaeGenus IxodesSpecies I heathiBinomial nameIxodes heathiKwak 2018Etymology editHeath s tick is named after the New Zealand parasitologist Allen C G Heath 1 Ecology editThe ecology of Heath s tick is poorly known However it has been suggested that this species may be a nest dwelling species which utilises the dens of the mountain pygmy possum to avoid the freezing winters of the Australian alps Heath s tick and its closest relatives Ixodes riscicollaris and Ixodes goliath all occupy habitats with relictual cool wet Gondwanan climates at high altitudes 2 The mountain pygmy possum relies on the fruits of the mountain plum pine Podocarpus lawrencei as a seasonal food source 3 However feral horses and deer have caused this plant to decline due to over grazing 4 The decline of the mountain pygmy possum due to decline of the mountain plum pine could cause Heath s tick to become extinct an example of a trophic cascade 1 The fragmentation of populations of mountain pygmy possums and Heath s ticks may result in inbreeding and stochastic events such as fires resulting on localised extinction of individual populations 5 At present Heath s tick is known from the Australian state of Victoria where it has only been collected on Mt Higginbotham the type locality and on Mt Loch 2 References edit a b Kwak Mackenzie L 6 February 2019 Meet Australia s Newest Species An Endangered Tick The Revelator Center for Biological Diversity Retrieved 26 April 2021 a b Kwak M K Madden C Wicker L 2018 Ixodes heathi n sp Acari Ixodidae a co endangered tick from the critically endangered mountain pygmy possum Burramys parvus with notes on its biology and conservation Experimental and Applied Acarology 76 3 413 419 doi 10 1007 s10493 018 0312 5 PMID 30302626 S2CID 52945250 Gibson R K Broome L Hutchinson M F 2018 Susceptibility to climate change via effects on food resources the feeding ecology of the endangered mountain pygmy possum Burramys parvus Wildlife Research 45 6 539 550 doi 10 1071 WR17186 S2CID 91985334 Good R Johnston S 2019 Rehabilitation and revegetation of the Kosciuszko summit area following the removal of grazing An historic review Ecological Management amp Restoration 20 1 13 20 doi 10 1111 emr 12363 Mitrovski P Heinze D A Broome L Hoffmann A A Weeks A R 2007 High levels of variation despite genetic fragmentation in populations of the endangered mountain pygmy possum Burramys parvus in alpine Australia Molecular Ecology 16 1 75 87 doi 10 1111 j 1365 294X 2006 03125 x PMID 17181722 S2CID 30603949 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ixodes heathi amp oldid 1192046889, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
