Lower prevalence of Lyme disease pathogens in mixed deciduous – coniferous forests
(2026) Forest Ecology and Management — Vol. 611, p. 123702 (2026)
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- Authors
Bourdin, Audrey 
Stojek, Katarzyna Jaroszewicz, Bogdan Jactel, Hervé
- Abstract
- A growing number of studies demonstrate the consequences of biodiversity loss on the increased prevalence of vector-borne diseases such as Lyme borreliosis. Given that vertebrate host species differ in their competence for pathogen transmission, it has been hypothesized that greater host diversity, which is more likely to occur in mixed forests, would reduce pathogen prevalence in ticks through a dilution effect. However, empirical evidence remains mixed, particularly in Europe, and recent studies suggest that habitat characteristics and vegetation structure may also play a key role in the risk of tick-borne disease. We sampled ticks along gradients of forest compositional diversity in a network of seven sites in Europe to assess the combined effect of tree and understorey plant diversity on ticks and associated pathogens. We found that several forest habitat characteristics were associated with variations in Ixodes ricinus densities and infection rates. The proportion of I. ricinus nymphs infected by Borrelia was lower in mixed than in pure forests. The prevalence of Borrelia and Rickettsia respectively increased and decreased with the richness of understorey plants. Ixodes ricinus larvae density increased with the proportion of plants palatable to roe deer (Capreolus capreolus). Our results suggest that forest diversity, at both tree and understorey levels, influences ticks and associated pathogens through several direct and potential indirect mechanisms such as effects on vertebrate hosts, particularly herbivores. Habitat and resource diversification of vertebrate hosts provides a useful theoretical framework to guide forest management toward reducing human health risks.
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Citations
Bourdin, A., Stojek, K., Jaroszewicz, B., Bonal, D., Bruelheide, H., Galon, C., Gillerot, L., Kadiri, Y., Maugis, V., Moutailler, S., Muys, B., Ponette, Q., Scherer-Lorenzen, M., Valdes-Correcher, E., Verheyen, K., & Jactel, H. (2026). Lower prevalence of Lyme disease pathogens in mixed deciduous – coniferous forests. Forest Ecology and Management, 611, 123702. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2026.123702 (Original work published 2026)