Final answer:
The size of the acorn crop affects the population of white-footed mice, which in turn influences the number of Lyme disease cases in humans by affecting the populations of deer ticks that carry the disease. Large acorn crops lead to more mice and therefore, more ticks feeding on mice rather than humans, reducing the risk of Lyme disease.
Step-by-step explanation:
The size of the acorn crop can influence the population of white-footed mice, which are primary hosts for black-legged ticks, also known as deer ticks. These ticks are the main vector for Lyme disease, which is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi. When there is a large acorn crop, the mouse population increases, providing ample hosts for the ticks and keeping them away from humans. Conversely, a poor acorn crop may lead to a decrease in the mouse population, causing ticks to seek blood meals from alternative hosts, including humans, thereby increasing the risk of Lyme disease transmission to people.
In a specific example, the mild winter in the northeast during the 2010-2011 season resulted in a boom in acorn availability, leading to an inflated population of white-footed mice the following summer. As a result, there was an increased number of ticks feeding on these mice, which led to more ticks carrying the Lyme disease bacterium. However, the subsequent cooler winter yielded fewer acorns, which led to a decrease in the mouse population and an increased likelihood of ticks feeding on humans, thereby increasing the risk of Lyme disease transmission. To control Lyme disease incidence, understanding the relationship between acorn crops, mouse populations, and tick life cycles is essential. This information is valuable for physicians and epidemiologists as they develop strategies to predict and mitigate Lyme disease outbreaks.