Influence of forest structural complexity on small mammal body condition and its impact on tick burden and pathogen prevalence
Vanroy, Tosca Baeten, Lander Martel, An Catfolis, Bram Fonville, Manoj Lens, Luc Pasmans, Frank Sprong, Hein Strubbe, Diederik Verbrugghe, Elin
Vanroy, Tosca
Baeten, Lander
Martel, An
Catfolis, Bram
Fonville, Manoj
Lens, Luc
Pasmans, Frank
Sprong, Hein
Strubbe, Diederik
Verbrugghe, Elin
Series / Report no.
Open Access
Type
Journal Article
Article
Article
Language
en
Date of publication
2025-06-18
Year of publication
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Title
Influence of forest structural complexity on small mammal body condition and its impact on tick burden and pathogen prevalence
Translated Title
Published in
Parasit Vectors 2025; 18(1):227
Abstract
More and more forest management focuses on increasing structural complexity to improve environmental conditions for biodiversity and forest functioning. However, it remains uncertain whether animal populations also benefit from increased forest structure. Small mammals are key reservoirs for zoonotic diseases, so understanding how forest structure changes their condition and how this, in turn, affects infection dynamics is critical for animal and human health.
This study examined relationships between forest structural complexity, individual body condition (scaled mass index (SMI) and telomere length), pathogen prevalence, and tick load in bank voles and wood mice across 19 forest plots in northern Belgium, representing a gradient of structural complexity.
Results showed that higher forest complexity, especially with more dead wood and a well-developed herb layer, increased small mammal abundance. Density varied by tree species, with highest abundances in oak and lowest in poplar forests. In addition, body condition improved with structural complexity; SMI increased with woody layer complexity in wood mice and with dead wood availability in bank voles. No clear relationship between telomere length and forest complexity was observed. The relationship between body condition and pathogen prevalence was species- and pathogen-specific. Small mammals in better body condition were more likely to host Borrelia burgdorferi (causing Lyme disease), particularly in complex forests, indicating a higher infection risk with increasing structural complexity.
Forest management practices that aim to enhance forest structure and biodiversity may thus inadvertently increase zoonotic disease risk and should take these findings in consideration to minimize the risk for human health.
This study examined relationships between forest structural complexity, individual body condition (scaled mass index (SMI) and telomere length), pathogen prevalence, and tick load in bank voles and wood mice across 19 forest plots in northern Belgium, representing a gradient of structural complexity.
Results showed that higher forest complexity, especially with more dead wood and a well-developed herb layer, increased small mammal abundance. Density varied by tree species, with highest abundances in oak and lowest in poplar forests. In addition, body condition improved with structural complexity; SMI increased with woody layer complexity in wood mice and with dead wood availability in bank voles. No clear relationship between telomere length and forest complexity was observed. The relationship between body condition and pathogen prevalence was species- and pathogen-specific. Small mammals in better body condition were more likely to host Borrelia burgdorferi (causing Lyme disease), particularly in complex forests, indicating a higher infection risk with increasing structural complexity.
Forest management practices that aim to enhance forest structure and biodiversity may thus inadvertently increase zoonotic disease risk and should take these findings in consideration to minimize the risk for human health.