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CHAPTER 6. Terrestrial Fauna of the NBNERR

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CHAPTER 6. Terrestrial Fauna of the NBNERR CHAPTER 6. Terrestrial Fauna of the NBNERR CHAPTER 6. Terrestrial Fauna Kenneth B. Raposa 55 An Ecological Profile of the Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve Figure 6.1. Researchers from (a) URI and (b) RI- DEM conducting research on ticks on Prudence Island using bait stations and fl agging techniques. Photo from NBNERR photo library. a. b. Figure 6.2. The dung beetle (Phanaeus vindex), found for the fi rst time on Prudence Island in September 2005. Photo by Michael Thomas. 56 CHAPTER 6. Terrestrial Fauna of the NBNERR Terrestrial Fauna of the NBNERR Invertebrates eases to humans. Prudence Island is well known as a site where residents and visitors alike exhibit Of all the terrestrial faunal groups, inverte- high incidence rates of tick-borne diseases including brates in general have probably received the least LymeLyme disease, babesiosis, and ehrlichiosis. The island amount of study in the NBNERR. The only data supports abundant tick populations due to an overly sources that were identifi ed include a recent survey dense white-tailed deer herd and extensive habitat of tiger beetles and moths on Prudence Island, stud- conditions conducive to tick survival (Raposa and ies on ticks—due to concern surrounding tick-borne Greene, 2003). Ticks fare well where humidity levels diseases—and periodic collections and surveys of approach 80 percent or higher while they are quest- various invertebrate groups on Prudence Island. ing in order to avoid desiccation. These conditions Mello (2002) conducted a survey of are prevalent on Prudence Island due to the maritime lepidoptera (butterfl ies and moths) and to a lesser island climate and to the extensive heavy brush and extent tiger beetles in order to determine the spe- vine cover (e.g., bittersweet) on much of the island. cies composition, habitat use, and distribution of Prudence Island is home to the deer tick (Ixo- these invertebrates on Prudence Island. The survey des dammini), dog tick (Dermacentor variabilis), and was conducted from May through November 2002 lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum). Hu and Amr using light traps at 12 stations located in different (1989) used standard fl agging techniques to quantify habitats around the island. Five major habitat types the relative abundances of the three tick species on were sampled, including grasslands, grassland/ the North Prudence Unit of the Reserve in 1988. Of shrub mixes, pine barrens, forest/wetland borders, the 120 ticks collected, 49 percent were I. dammini; and dunes. Light trap sampling was augmented by 43 percent were D. variabilis, and 8 percent were A. observations and netting of butterfl ies, tiger beetles, americanum. Hyland and Mather (1990) collected and other insects conducted on 13 dates from May ticks from North Prudence a year later, in 1989. In through September. From these efforts, 385 species this study, over 1,885 ticks were collected, with 78 of macrolepidoptera (large moths), 127 species of percent being A. americanum, 18 percent being I. microlepidoptera (small moths), 33 butterfl y species dammini, and only 4 percent being D. variabilis. Car- and fi ve tiger beetle species were collected. Two roll (1990) also used fl agging techniques at 10 sites species of lepidoptera, Zanclognatha martha (pine throughout the island to further examine the relative barrens Zanclognatha moth) and Poanes viator abundance of the three tick species over a larger area. (broad-winged skipper) are listed as species of A total of 1,360 ticks were collected, 89 percent of concern in the state. Three species of tiger beetles which were A. americanum, 6 percent were D. varia- that were found are also listed in the state, includ- bilis, and 5 percent I. dammini. Ticks were collected ing Cicindela marginata and C. purpurea (both of yet again by Pollack (1996), who stated that of 1,676 concern) and C. tranquebarica (threatened). Mello ticks, most deer ticks were found at the south end of (2002) indicates that all of these species of concern the island, while most lone star ticks were found at are affi liated with grasslands and/or pine barrens, the north end. Dog ticks were fairly evenly distributed further indicating the importance of maintaining throughout the island. and restoring these habitats on Prudence Island. These studies suggest that the dominant spe- Mello also estimated that his study only docu- cies on Prudence Island is probably the lone star tick, mented 50 percent of the macrolipidoptera, 15 to 20 A. americanum. The differing relative abundances percent of microlepidoptera, 67 percent of butter- reported by Hu and Amr (1989) are likely due to the fl ies, and 60 percent of tiger beetles that might be fact that they only collected ticks on one date in April expected to be found on Prudence Island, illustrat- when temperatures were 48 F and conditions were ing that further surveys are necessary to simply damp. Further, larval ticks were not included in this document the species composition of these groups study since they had not yet emerged from eggs. In of invertebrates in the NBNERR. contrast, Hyland and Mather (1990) collected from The ticks on Prudence Island have been May through October and Carroll (1990) collected studied to a greater degree than other invertebrates ticks in July when temperatures were 85 F. Thus, these due to interest in tick-borne diseases (Fig 6.1). studies were conducted under conditions more favor- These studies have led to an increased understand- able to the collection of all life-history stages of the ing of the ecology of these species, especially as three tick species. it relates to the transmission of tick-borne dis- 57 An Ecological Profile of the Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve Carroll et al. (1992) examined the small- 2005 in the South Prudence Unit pine barrens of the scale distribution of the deer tick on residential Reserve (Fig. 6.2). Prior to this discovery, the only lawns on Prudence Island. Again using standard other confi rmed sighting of the dung beetle in Rhode fl agging techniques, these authors showed that Island was on Block Island and, interestingly, the nymphal deer ticks were fi ve times more abundant dung beetle on Prudence Island was found using a on lawns adjacent to woods than on lawns adja- recent dung pile left by a coyote, which is relatively cent to other lawns. Further, they demonstrated new to Prudence Island. that nymphal deer tick abundance decreased with It is clear that at present we have only a increasing distance from woods. The prevalence of rudimentary understanding of terrestrial invertebrate the Lyme disease–causing spirochete on ticks did species that are present in the Reserve and in other not differ between lawn types or among differ- areas of Prudence Island. The studies and surveys ent distances from woods (overall 31 percent of conducted to date have resulted in an initial, nymphal deer ticks were infected with the spiro- although far from comprehensive, invertebrate chete). This indicates that although the risk is de- species list. Much more work is needed to simply creased, it is still possible to contract Lyme disease identify additional species that are present that have on mowed residential lawns. not been found in previous efforts. Research and Work on Prudence Island by Mather and monitoring opportunities focusing on terrestrial Mather (1990) showed that of the three aforemen- invertebrates in the Reserve are plentiful. Beyond tioned tick species, only I. dammini is a competent species inventories, it is essential to understand how vector of Lyme disease. They also showed that populations of rare and endangered species change only I. dammini and D. variabilis were found us- over time in response to Reserve land management ing white-footed mice as hosts. However, it was practices (e.g., the effects of off-road driving, shown earlier that I. dammini ticks on Prudence maintenance mowing, and prescribed burning on Island carry the causative agents of both Lyme populations of tiger beetles in the Reserve’s pine disease (the spirochete Borrelia burgdorferi) and barrens). It is also important to begin to monitor human babesiosis (Babesia microti) (Anderson et populations of ticks (and the incidence of contacting al., 1986). The Anderson et al. (1986) study was tick-borne diseases) to understand how they respond designed to test for the presence of both agents on to recent RIDEM efforts to reduce the population of white-footed mice and meadow voles on Prudence white-tailed deer on Prudence and Patience islands. and Patience islands. Of the 14 rodents examined, 71 percent were carrying B. burgdorferi and 57 percent carried B. microti; both agents were found Reptiles and Amphibians on 36 percent of the rodents. This was the fi rst demonstration that both diseases were present Until recently, the only source of information simultaneously in the same small mammal host and on reptiles and amphibians (collectively referred to the authors suggest that nymphal I. dammini may as “herpetofauna”) in the NBNERR was from inven- subsequently transmit both diseases to humans. tories conducted by RIDEM periodically between Aside from these studies on lepidoptera and 1985 and 1998. Based on these inventories, herpe- ticks, the only other sources of information on in- tofauna were not present on either Patience or Dyer vertebrates on Prudence Island or in the NBNERR islands (Ferren 1985; Raithel, personal communica- come from periodic invertebrate surveys conducted tion). However, three species were documented on by visiting researchers. Dragonfl ies and damselfl ies Hope Island and a relatively rich herpetological as- were collected from Prudence Island between July semblage totaling 15 species was found on Prudence 1998 and August 2001 as part of the Rhode Island Island (Raithel, personal communication) (Fig. 6.3; Odonata Atlas compiled by the Rhode Island Natu- Table 6.1).
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