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Table 1 A comparison of studies that have investigated the relationship between ticks and deer including the scale they investigated (regional, 1 km2–100 km2; local, 1 m2–1 km2), whether the deer presence/absence was recorded through controlling deer or deer density was measured and the methods used to measure deer presence or density

From: Sampling scale and season influence the observed relationship between the density of deer and questing Ixodes ricinus nymphs

Study

Deer population

Spatial scale

Methods to measure deer density

Range of deer density recorded

Observed relationship with ticks

Wilson et al. [17]

Presence/absence

Regional (single site)

–

–

Positive

Daniels et al. [18]

Presence/absence

Regional

Deer signs

–

Positive

Rand et al. [19]

Presence/absence

Regional (two sites)

–

–

Positive

Perkins et al. [20]

Presence/absence

Local

–

–

Non-linear (effect of site size)

Ruiz-Fons & Gilbert [21]

Presence/Absence

Local

Dung pellet counts

0–0.45 (deer dung index)

Positive

Gilbert et al. [22]

Presence/absence: reduced density

Multiple (regional and local)

Dung pellet counts

8–50 deer/km2; 0–0.25 (deer dung index)

Positive

Hofmeester et al. [5]

Presence/absence: observed deer density

Regional

Camera trapping

0.001–0.84 (camera passage rate)

Positive (presence): None (abundance)

Deblinger et al. [23]

Reduced density

Regional

Hunting records; census surveys

39–156 deer

Positive

Stafford et al. [24]

Reduced density

Regional

Marked population

97.3–13.1 deer/km2

Positive

Jordan et al. [25]

Reduced density

Regional

Aerial surveys

24.3–45.6 deer/km2

None

Kilpatrick et al. [26]

Reduced density

Regional

Aerial surveys; marked population

0–9.8 deer/km2

Positive

Wilson et al. [27]

Observed deer density

Regional

Dung pellet counts; deer signs

0–145 pellet groups

Positive (larvae): None (nymphs)

Wilson et al. [28]

Observed deer density

Local

Radio telemetry

0–15 deer

Positive

Rand et al. [13]

Observed deer density

Multiple (regional and local)

Hunting records; dung pellet counts

44–67 deer/km2

Positive

Millins et al. [11]

Observed deer density

Local

Dung pellet counts

0–0.45 (deer dung index)

None

Jordan & Schulze [29]

Observed deer density

Regional

Browsing counts

26.9–52.8 % (browse plots)

None

Ostfeld et al. [30]

Observed deer density

Regional

Hunting and browsing counts

Not reported

Positive

Gilbert et al. [31]

Observed deer density

Regional

Dung pellet counts

0.05–0.5

Positive

Tagliapietra et al. [32]

Observed deer density

Regional

Census surveys

0–24 deer/km2

Positive

Cagnacci et al. [33]

Observed deer density

Regional

Dung pellet counts

2–15.5 deer/100 ha

Non-linear

James et al. [10]

Observed deer density

Regional

Dung pellet counts

Not reported

Positive

Qviller et al. [34]

Observed deer density

Regional

Previous deer home range data

32–42 deer

Positive

Werden et al. [35]

Observed deer density

Regional

Dung pellet counts

0–220 pellet groups/ha

Positive