Question

How is forest fragmentation linked to the rise of Lyme disease?

Lyme disease is caused by infections of the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi which is transferred to humans via blood-sucking bites from the tick, Ixodes scapularis. Lyme disease can cause flu-like symptoms in the short term and more serious illnesses in the long term, if not treated. Why is Lyme disease on the rise in eastern North America?

Part A

A letter to the editor in a local newspaper asserts that "we cannot afford to preserve natural forests, because we need to use these resources to help humans." How could you respond to this comment in terms of Lyme disease?

Match the terms in the left column to the appropriate blanks in the sentences on the right. Not all terms will be used.

Reset Help a higher level low The best prevention for Lyme disease is to preserve natural forests with species richness-when the community is diverse. The population of white-footed mice that the Lyme bacterium will be . Therefore, humans will have of exposure to Lyme disease. less does not carry are huge reservoirs of a lower level large high small more

Answer 1

The best prevention of Lyme disease is to preserve natural forests with high species richness- when the community is more diverse. The population of the white-footed mice that are huge-reservoirs of the Lyme bacterium will be less. Therefore, humans will have low exposure to Lyme disease.