Spatial distribution patterns of tick community structure in sympatric jaguars (Panthera onca) and pumas (Puma concolor) from three ecoregions in Mexico

We examined tick communities on wild felid hosts in three ecoregions of Mexico. We collected 186 ticks of 7 species from 10 pumas (Puma concolor) and 9 jaguars (Panthera onca). Tick community composition varied across the ecoregions, and across host species within each region. Overall, Ixodes affinis, Amblyomma ovale, and Amblyomma tenellum were the most abundant species; however, only the latter two ticks were distributed across all three ecoregions, while I. affinis, along with Ixodes spinipalpis, Amblyomma inornatum, and Amblyomma parvum were restricted to more limited geographical regions. Ixodes affinis occurred strictly in southern tropical rainforest ecoregions and was significantly more abundant in Selva Lacandona compared with the Yucatán Peninsula. Amblyomma ovale was significantly more common in the tropical dry forest in the Pacific coastal ecoregion. Amblyomma tenellum abundance tended to be higher on jaguars, while I. affinis abundance was higher on pumas. Regional distribution patterns of some tick species (e.g., I. affinis and I. spinipalpis) may be determined by off‐host environmental conditions rather than host factors. In contrast, at the local scale, occurrence and abundance of some tick species (e.g., A. tenellum, A. ovale and Rhipicephalus microplus) might be driven by ecological‐host factors, such as habitat use or predator–prey relationships. Map of Mexico showing the dominant tick species found on each host (jaguar, Panthera onca and puma, Puma concolor) in three ecoregions. Out of seven tick species identified, Ixodes affinis, Amblyomma ovale, and Amblyomma tenellum were the most abundant species collected from pumas and jaguars in three ecoregions in Mexico Tick community composition varied across ecoregions and host species. Dominant species were A. ovale in dry forests, I. affinis in the evergreen rainforest, and A. tenellum in jaguars in the deciduous rainforest. Regional distribution patterns of some tick species may be determined by environmental conditions, while at the local scale, occurrence and abundance of others might be driven by ecological‐host factors