Isaac2662
Registered: December 2014 Posts: 1
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NICODEMUS WILDERNESS PROJECT
Northern Maine’s Dermacentor albipictus Effect on Alces alces within Aroostook County
Inspiring Humanity to Protect our Planet
12/26/2014
 
The Nicodemus Wilderness Projects mission is as followed “To protect wildlife and our environment and to build future conservation leaders by engaging youth in environmental stewardship projects worldwide.” With a vision to excite youth to take responsibility for the wildlife and environment in their local communities through NWP projects. While these inspired youth become the future generation who strive for conservation leadership worldwide.
I believe my project embodies each piece of the Nicodemus Wilderness Project because first it inspired many students, faculty, and local residents to learn about local wildlife and the environmental impacts we have on them, as well as educating the populous about global climate change and its major impacts on a specific ectoparisitic relationship. Lastly my project emphasizes the need for long term responsibility and action from residential and non-residential people.
Purpose of Study:
The purpose of this project study was to uncover what issues Northern Maine’s Aroostook county moose population has when dealing with the effect of Dermacentor albipictus on moose mass, gender and location. The project was located at the Fort Kent Maine’s Quigley’s Moose check station where Alces alces were brought in for tagging and weighing. The study consisted of recording the weight of the moose, the sex of the moose, the location it was shot and killed and the amount of ticks that were recorded in 12 total transects. A transect is an area that is used to measure the approximate number of ticks on a moose and is done with accordance to the Maine State Survey. The Transect is usually around 5 inches in length, the area of which the comb covers; the comb is used to move the moose hair back to see skin where the ectoparasite (winter tick) resides.
Winter Tick Disease:
Winter tick or Dermacentor albipictus has become excessively increased in the last few decades due to the increase of global climate change, because of this, moose populations in Northern Maine have declined, although the exact cause is not due solely to these ectoparasites. However these creatures have been a main cause because of their increase in population and habitat range. As winters become shorter and warmer the winter ticks life cycle which is very interesting in itself, becomes more adventitious. The theory that warmer and shorter winters have increased the likely hood of the survival of adult female ticks dropping off the moose in March and April, which in turn increased the population of ticks hatching the following year, was confirmed true according to (Samuel, 2007).
Figure 1 the Lifecycle of Winter Tick on Moose
Global Warming and the “Ghost Moose”:
Much like other ungulates moose move around quite a bit, however solitary at times these creatures are a bit different then deer, elk, and caribou where they are very poor groomers making the most easiest target for ectoparasites (parasites that live outside its host). Winter tick is one of these parasites that take advantage of the poor grooming this animal exhibits. When winter tick infests its hosts in some cases over 100 thousand on a single host the animal becomes anemic, distracted from eating, and eventually starves or dies from anemia. One visual symptom of this parasitic activity is the white color of the hair that the moose displays. This is caused from excessive grooming done by the moose, usually resulting in the loss of the outer coat of hair, and uncovering its undercoat which is white. Hence there nickname the “Ghost moose”. Moose however do not move as much as other ungulates when temperatures rise above 23 degrees in winter and 53 degrees Fahrenheit in summer they either search for cooler climates or wetter climates. This can be problematic because of global climate change winters become harder for moose to move around and uncomfortable for moose to forage and find food. While also increasing the likely hood for moose to be distracted from other needs such as grooming and finding food. Moose rut season coincides with the lifecycle of winter tick so well that the time that moose are in rut winter ticks are searching for their hosts causing the likely hood for moose to acquire ticks to rise.
Educating Present and Future Generations:
Throughout my study I was visited by numerous classes of school children who wanted to learn about my project and its importance. As well as local hunters who wanted to know and understand why Winter Tick populations are on the rise and whether these ticks do harm to humans. When explaining my project I made sure to emphasize the importance of bettering the local area and how local organizations and businesses are helping to reverse the effects of global climate change and thus help change the effects these parasites have on moose in Maine. An example would be the college and its new biomass boiler, as well as its recycling policies and environmental groups. In the end my project was displayed as a presentation at my college where I explained the purpose and importance of the global climate on a local level.
References:
Samuel, W. M. (2007). FACTORS AFFECTING EPIZOOTICS OF WINTER TICKS AND MORTALITY OF
MOOSE. Alces, 4339-48.
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