Comments on: Invasive shrub increases risk of human disease (via ticks, deer and bacteria) http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2010/10/11/invasive-shrub-increases-risk-of-human-disease-via-ticks-deer-and-bacteria/ Mon, 26 Nov 2012 12:00:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 By: Cesar Sanchez http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2010/10/11/invasive-shrub-increases-risk-of-human-disease-via-ticks-deer-and-bacteria/#comment-9409 Cesar Sanchez Thu, 14 Oct 2010 08:14:04 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/?p=2867#comment-9409 +1 DonK: "the problem is the deer, not the honeysuckle." Also, I'm wondering if there are some examples of an invasive species **decreasing** the burden of human disease? For instance, any plant that is disliked by deers...? +1 DonK: “the problem is the deer, not the honeysuckle.”

Also, I’m wondering if there are some examples of an invasive species **decreasing** the burden of human disease? For instance, any plant that is disliked by deers…?

]]> By: DonK http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2010/10/11/invasive-shrub-increases-risk-of-human-disease-via-ticks-deer-and-bacteria/#comment-9408 DonK Wed, 13 Oct 2010 13:41:54 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/?p=2867#comment-9408 It seems the problem is the deer, not the honeysuckle. While the increase in human incidence of the disease has increased recently the honeysuckle is not a recent invasive species. The honeysuckle is an indicator of deer population density. Removing the invasive species makes the environment less hospitable to the deer. Their parasite, and the disease they spread move with them. It does nothing to reduce the disease burden of the deer population or the likely hood that the bacteria will be transmitted by the ticks. It would seem than that because the disease is directly associated with deer population density, that the eradication of the invasive honeysuckle will only shift the deer population to arias characterized by some other, possibly native, plant. The increase in deer population can be blamed on good wildlife management and a reduction in hunting pressure. It seems the problem is the deer, not the honeysuckle. While the increase in human incidence of the disease has increased recently the honeysuckle is not a recent invasive species. The honeysuckle is an indicator of deer population density. Removing the invasive species makes the environment less hospitable to the deer. Their parasite, and the disease they spread move with them. It does nothing to reduce the disease burden of the deer population or the likely hood that the bacteria will be transmitted by the ticks. It would seem than that because the disease is directly associated with deer population density, that the eradication of the invasive honeysuckle will only shift the deer population to arias characterized by some other, possibly native, plant. The increase in deer population can be blamed on good wildlife management and a reduction in hunting pressure.

]]> By: zoologirl http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2010/10/11/invasive-shrub-increases-risk-of-human-disease-via-ticks-deer-and-bacteria/#comment-9407 zoologirl Mon, 11 Oct 2010 21:42:13 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/?p=2867#comment-9407 Very interesting. Hopefully this will mean more support for removal of invasives! I wonder how these invasives also affect rodent densities since Lyme disease risk is more strongly tied to rodent abundance than deer abundance. Very interesting. Hopefully this will mean more support for removal of invasives! I wonder how these invasives also affect rodent densities since Lyme disease risk is more strongly tied to rodent abundance than deer abundance.

]]> By: Alex Wild http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/2010/10/11/invasive-shrub-increases-risk-of-human-disease-via-ticks-deer-and-bacteria/#comment-9406 Alex Wild Mon, 11 Oct 2010 19:15:16 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/notrocketscience/?p=2867#comment-9406 Great article as usual, Ed. But, I'll note that Brian has moved on from Wash U and we're now happy to count him among the faculty here at the University of Illinois. The more I talk to him about ticks, though, the less I want to go outside, ever again. Great article as usual, Ed.

But, I’ll note that Brian has moved on from Wash U and we’re now happy to count him among the faculty here at the University of Illinois. The more I talk to him about ticks, though, the less I want to go outside, ever again.

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