Fig. 6

Boxplot of the effect of elevation on the density of infected nymphs (DIN). The DIN is the annual estimate of the number of infected questing I. ricinus nymphs per 100 m² sampled by the dragging method. For each of the four elevation sites, the DIN values are shown for the 15 years of the study (2004–2018). Compared to the low elevation site, the mean DIN at the medium, high, and top elevation sites were 40.2%, 66.9%, and 91.7% lower, respectively. The boxplots show the median (black line), 25th and 75th percentiles (edges of the box), minimum and maximum values (whiskers), and outliers (solid circles)