AN INTEGRATED SENSING AND DATA ACQUISITION-SYSTEM DESIGNED FOR UNATTENDED CONTINUOUS MONITORING OF MICROCLIMATE RELATIVE-HUMIDITY AND ITS USE TO DETERMINE THE INFLUENCE OF VAPOR-PRESSURE DEFICITS ON TICK (ACARI, IXODOIDEA) ACTIVITY
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Humicap** ** Mention of a tradename is used solely for specific information and does not constitute endorsement or warranty by the Texas Agriculture Experiment Station. relative-humidity probes and a microcomputer system were integrated to provide an unattended, continuous monitor of tick microclimates. Design and operation of the integrated unit are explained and discussed. Use of the system to collect tick microclimate RH and temperature data from dissimilar range vegetation habitats is evaluated by comparison of vapor pressure deficits. Statistically significant (P< 0.01) differences were observed between the tick microclimates and air/buffelgrass interface and mesoclimate. Microclimate vapor pressure deficits in mixed brush-buffelgrass communities or mesquite-buffelgrass communities were significantly different (P< 0.01) from open buffelgrass communities. Statistical and biological differences in activity of unfed adult Amblyomma maculatum (Koch) ticks are interpreted on the basis of microclimate vapor pressure deficits and temperature. 1982.
