7/16 - A Preview to Our Results

Hello,

   We have been working hard on analyzing the results for our tick study from last summer. As mentioned before, we are studying the correlations of tick presence and numbers with different vegetation types in Colorado wild areas. I have been modeling our data with some different parameters to find the greatest fit and to see where these correlations are significant/strongest. Nothing is final, but some interesting patterns and outcomes are worth noting. 

    We have decided to use a Zero-inflated Generalized Linear Mixed Model with our data, which splits the results into two categories, one for the correlations with the presence of ticks alone, and one for the correlations with the number of ticks. No matter what I have done so far in the modeling, one variable has a very strong correlation with tick numbers: time of year. This was to be expected; we saw a drastic drop in abundance as the summer progressed last year, and it's nice to see that this variable has those strong results. Another interesting result has been a negative association of tick presence with shrubs. This result could change in the future if we find models with a better fit, but it's an interesting association that could be explored further. There will likely be other important associations in our modeling, but these are the ones that are popping up time and time again. It's awesome to see what types of environments the Colorado ticks are drawn to, and hopefully, this information will yield something valuable.