Predicting the potential global distribution of Ixodes pacificus under climate change

the natural environment, forest vegetation, mountains and deserts, the distribution of animals and plants, etc., and the global climate has also undergone a series of changes. In an environ- ment where current environmental conditions are basically or almost suitable for the survival and reproduction of I. pacificus, future changes in precipitation and temperature patterns will have a significantly reduced effect on the distribution of I. pacificus. Although the suitable areas of I. pacificus shows a trend of shrinking under the future cli- mate scenario, the countries and regions involved in the potential medium and high suitable area of I. pacificus do not change much, mainly in the western and eastern parts of North America and the southwestern part of Canada. In addition, the results show that there are also suitable areas for I. pacificus in other countries and regions under the future climate change. For example, Chile and Argentina in South America; Most countries of Western Europe along the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts; Most of New Zealand and Tasmania in Oceania, and parts of southeastern Australia. In Asia, Lebanon, Israel, Cyprus, Turkey, Syria, Iran, Afghani- stan and other regions; In northern Africa along the Mediterranean and in southern Lesotho. And the preferred habitat of I. pacificus includes moist coastal redwood forest, dry oak or man- drone woodlands, mixed hardwoods, dense woodlands carpeted with leaf litter, grasslands, chaparral, and aspen forest [2]. Therefore, the invasion risk of I. pacificus should be focused on

in coastal countries and regions with developed tourism or frequent international trade. Fig 11. The potential distribution of suitable areas for I. pacificus around the world under the climatic conditions of SSP3-7.0. (a)2021-2040; (b)2041-2060; (c)2061-2080; (d)2081-2100. Made with Natural Earth. Free vector and raster map data @ naturalearthdata.com. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0309367.g011 PLOS ONE Prediction of the distribution of Ixodes pacificus PLOS ONE | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0309367 August 27, 2024 13 / 18