Population Ecology Graphing Analysis Activity: Tick Seasons and Transmitted Diseases

Biology, ecology, and middle school science students will graph and interpret data for two tick species common throughout America: dog (wood) and black-legged (deer). They will create a line graph showcasing tick activity in relation to outdoor temperatures for the two species. They will also graph the number of newly reported cases of Lyme disease, anaplasmosis, and ehrlichiosis by month. That graph will feature three colored lines. Students will also interpret tick activity in relation to precipitation and drought from another source data table.

By the end of the activity, students will see each species' trendlines for their peak outdoor temperature ranges. They will also determine which species is the predominant vector of disease and deduce whether precipitation affects tick activity.

This four-page lesson includes background information on tick species and the diseases they spread. It also includes a complete key in color and built-in grids for graphing. This PDF file will become editable upon conversion to Microsoft Word using Adobe Acrobat. 

I appreciate your interest! I have nearly thirty years of science teaching experience and have over twenty years of publishing experience. I am confident this product will serve you and your students well for years to come!