Tick Distribution in the Central Pacific as Influenced by Sea Bird Movement12

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Abstract
Tick distribution in the Central Pacific region reflects the influence of 2 distinct sea bird breeding populations — northern, Hawaiian Is. area, and southern, Line Is. Phoenix Is. area. Four tick species — Ixodes amersoni, I. laysanensis, Ornithodoros denmarki, and O. capensis — are associated with birds nesting on Central Pacific islands. I. amersoni is known from Phoenix I. and Enderbury I., although in time it probably will be found on other islands of the southern Central Pacific area as well. I. laysanensis and O. denmarki are presently known from certain islands in the northern Central Pacific area, but these also are expected to be found eventually on all of the islands in this area as well. O. capensis is widely distributed throughout tropical and subtropical oceans, including the entire Central Pacific region; it is suggested that sea birds may have brought this species to both northern and southern Pacific areas from other parts of the world. It is further suggested that the O. capensis population in the northern Central Pacific area does not normally mix with the southern Central Pacific population, due to the limited sea bird movement between these 2 areas. Although the tick-dissemination potential of sea birds which migrate annually into and through the Central Pacific is great, tick deposition is minimized, since these birds normally remain at sea during their nonbreeding periods and seldom stop on islands.

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