Editing Tick (section)

=== Ecology ===
In general, ticks are found wherever their host species occur. Migrating birds carry ticks with them on through their migrations; a study of migratory birds passing through Egypt discovered more than half the bird species examined were carrying ticks. It was also observed the tick species varied depending on the season of migration, in this study it is spring and autumn migrations, this is thought to occur due to the seasonal periodicities of the different species.<ref name="Hoogstraal">{{cite journal | vauthors = Hoogstraal H, Kaiser MN, Traylor MA, Guindy E, Gaber S | title = Ticks (Ixodidae) on birds migrating from Europe and Asia to Africa 1959-61 | journal = Bulletin of the World Health Organization | volume = 28 | issue = 2 | pages = 235–62 | year = 1963 | pmid = 13961632 | pmc = 2554471 }}</ref>

For an ecosystem to support ticks, it must satisfy two requirements; the population density of host species in the area must be great enough and it must be humid enough for ticks to remain hydrated.<ref name="Wall-55">[[#Wall|Wall & Shearer (2001)]]: [https://books.google.com/books?id=AMljlwB0ej0C&pg=PA55 p. 55]</ref> Due to their role in transmitting [[Lyme disease]], Ixodid ticks, particularly the North American [[Ixodes scapularis|''I.&nbsp;scapularis'']], have been studied using [[geographic information system]]s to develop predictive models for ideal tick habitats. According to these studies, certain features of a given microclimate – such as sandy soil, hardwood trees, rivers, and the presence of deer – were determined to be good predictors of dense tick populations.<ref name="SamuelPybus2001" />

Mites and nematodes feed on ticks, which are also a minor nutritional resource for birds. More importantly, ticks act as a disease vector and behave as the primary hosts of many different [[pathogen]]s such as [[spirochaete]]s. Ticks carry various debilitating diseases therefore, ticks may assist in controlling animal populations and preventing overgrazing.<ref>{{cite news |title=The mighty tick | vauthors = Ray CC |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/29/science/would-eradicating-deer-ticks-hurt-the-ecosystem.html?_r=0 |newspaper=New York Times |date=28 May 2012 |access-date=15 December 2016}}</ref>

Ticks can transmit an array of infectious diseases that affect humans and other animals.<ref name="Australia">{{cite journal | year=2005 | volume=26 | issue=2 | first3=Elizabeth | first1=Marie | first2=Julie | last3=Deane | page=76 | issn=1324-4272 | journal=[[Microbiology Australia]] | publisher=[[CSIRO Publishing]] | last1=Vilcins | last2=Old | s2cid=81977091 | doi=10.1071/ma05076 | title=The impact of ticks and tick-borne diseases on native animal species in Australia| doi-broken-date=23 March 2025 | doi-access=free }}</ref> Ticks that carry [[Zoonosis|zoonotic]]  pathogens often tend to have a wide host range. The infective agents can be present not only in the adult tick, but also in the eggs produced plentifully by the females. Many tick species have extended their ranges as a result of the movements of people, domesticated pets, and [[livestock]]. With increasing participation in outdoor activities such as [[hiking|wilderness hikes]], more people and their dogs may find themselves exposed to ticks.<ref name="CVBDtransmission">{{cite web |url=http://www.cvbd.org/en/tick-borne-diseases/disease-transmission/ |title=Disease transmission |work=CVBD: Companion Vector-Borne Diseases |access-date=9 December 2016}}</ref>