RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MAMMAL ABUNDANCE AND DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTION OF HARD TICKS (ACARI : IXODIDAE) IN KHAO YAI NATIONAL PARK

Abstract

Relationships between mammal abundance, diversity and distribution of hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) was studied at Khao Yai National Park during November 2004 to October 2005. The objectives were to know relationship between diversity and distribution of hard ticks and mammal abundance in different kinds of plant communities in the park. The 50 sample plots of 1 x 10 m. in size were lined along  the 500 m. of 2 line transects in dry evergreen forest, savanna and secondary growth, hill evergreen forest, mixed deciduous forest and tropical rain forest. Identified mammal track and hard ticks were collected in every 2 month. The relationships of hard ticks and mammal abundance was analysed by Spearman's Rank Correlation, and the hard ticks group were ordinated by CCA (Canonical Correspondence Analysis) Result of this study showed that a total of 12 species of mammal belonging to 10 genera in 8 families were collected in this National Park. Among them, Samba deer was the highest abundance. Most of mammal were found in savanna and secondary growth. A total of 554 hard ticks were classified into 8 species in 3 genera. Haemaphysalis lagrangei was the most abundance. Hard ticks were mostly found in tropical rain forest. Hill evergreen forest was the highest species of hard ticks. Hard ticks species occurred in tropical rain forest were also found in dry evergreen forest. Distribution pattern of hard ticks was clump. Mammal abundance and distribution of hard ticks showed no clear relationships. Amount of host, temperature, understory growth, litter cover and leaf litter depth have no affect on hard ticks species diversity in this National Park except relative humidity. Appearance of hard ticks in Khao Yai National Park might be depending on various factors such as amount of host, relative humidity, temperature and vegetation cover in different habitats.