Howard Ginsberg, Ph.D.
Howie is a Scientist Emeritus with the Eastern Ecological Science Center.
His research explores transmission dynamics and factors that influence human exposure to vector-borne zoonotic pathogens, so as to develop efficient approaches to surveillance and management. He also studies bee foraging ecology and faunistic trends.
Education and Certifications
Ph.D. in entomology from Cornell University in 1979.
Honors and Awards
Dr. Ginsberg received the Director’s Award for Natural Resource Research, 1999, from the U.S. National Park Service.
Distinguished Service Award, 2021, from the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 109
Effect of phenology on agonistic competitive interactions between invasive and native sheet-web spiders
The phenologies of introduced relative to native species can greatly influence the degree and symmetry of competition between them. The European spider Linyphia triangularis (Clerck, 1757) (Linyphiidae) reaches very high densities in coastal Maine (USA). Previous studies suggest thatL. triangularis negatively affects native linyphiid species, with competition for webs as one mechanism. We document
Authors
Jeremy D. Houser, Adam H. Porter, Howard S. Ginsberg, Elizabeth M. Jakob
Design for mosquito abundance, diversity, and phenology sampling within the National Ecological Observatory Network
The National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) intends to monitor mosquito populations across its broad geographical range of sites because of their prevalence in food webs, sensitivity to abiotic factors and relevance for human health. We describe the design of mosquito population sampling in the context of NEON’s long term continental scale monitoring program, emphasizing the sampling design
Authors
D. Hoekman, Yuri P. Springer, C.M. Barker, R. Barrera, M.S. Blackmore, W.E. Bradshaw, D. H. Foley, Howard S. Ginsberg, M. H. Hayden, C. M. Holzapfel, S. A. Juliano, L. D. Kramer, S. L. LaDeau, T. P. Livdahl, C. G. Moore, R.S. Nasci, W.K. Reisen, H. M. Savage
A dynamic population model to investigate effects of climate and climate-independent factors on the lifecycle of the tick Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae)
The lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum, is a disease vector of significance for human and animal health throughout much of the eastern United States. To model the potential effects of climate change on this tick, a better understanding is needed of the relative roles of temperature-dependent and temperature-independent (day-length-dependent behavioral or morphogenetic diapause) processes acting
Authors
Antoinette Ludwig, Howard S. Ginsberg, Graham J. Hickling, Nicholas H. Ogden
Different populations of blacklegged tick nymphs exhibit differences in questing behavior that have implications for human lyme disease risk
Animal behavior can have profound effects on pathogen transmission and disease incidence. We studied the questing (= host-seeking) behavior of blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis) nymphs, which are the primary vectors of Lyme disease in the eastern United States. Lyme disease is common in northern but not in southern regions, and prior ecological studies have found that standard methods used to co
Authors
Isis M. Arsnoe, Graham J. Hickling, Howard S. Ginsberg, Richard McElreath, Jean I. Tsao
Competition between introduced and native spiders (Araneae: Linyphiidae)
The European sheet-web spider Linyphia triangularis (Araneae: Linyphiidae) has become established in Maine, where it often reaches very high densities. Two lines of evidence from previous work suggest that L. triangularis affects populations of the native linyphiid spider Frontinella communis. First, F. communis individuals are relatively scarce in both forest and coastal habitat where L. triangul
Authors
J.D. Houser, Howard S. Ginsberg, Elizabeth M. Jakob
Comparison of survival patterns of northern and southern genotypes of the North American tick Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) under northern and southern conditions
BackgroundSeveral investigators have reported genetic differences between northern and southern populations of Ixodes scapularis in North America, as well as differences in patterns of disease transmission. Ecological and behavioral correlates of these genetic differences, which might have implications for disease transmission, have not been reported. We compared survival of northern with that of
Authors
Howard S. Ginsberg, Eric L. Rulison, Alexandra Azevedo, Genevieve C. Pang, Isis M. Kuczaj, Jean I. Tsao, Roger A. LeBrun
Minimal role of eastern fence lizards in Borrelia burgdorferi transmission in central New Jersey oak/pine woodlands
The Eastern fence lizard, Sceloporus undulatus, is widely distributed in eastern and central North America, ranging through areas with high levels of Lyme disease, as well as areas where Lyme disease is rare or absent. We studied the potential role of S. undulatus in transmission dynamics of Lyme spirochetes by sampling ticks from a variety of natural hosts at field sites in central New Jersey, an
Authors
Eric L. Rulison, Kaetlyn T Kerr, Megan C Dyer, Seungeun Han, Russell L. Burke, Jean I. Tsao, Howard S. Ginsberg
Effect of temperature on feeding period of larval blacklegged ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) on eastern fence lizards
Ambient temperature can influence tick development time, and can potentially affect tick interactions with pathogens and with vertebrate hosts. We studied the effect of ambient temperature on duration of attachment of larval blacklegged ticks, Ixodes scapularis Say, to eastern fence lizards, Sceloporus undulatus (Bose & Daudin). Feeding periods of larvae that attached to lizards under preferred te
Authors
Eric L. Rulison, Roger A. LeBrun, Howard S. Ginsberg
Adverse moisture events predict seasonal abundance of Lyme disease vector ticks (Ixodes scapularis)
Background: Lyme borreliosis (LB) is the most commonly reported vector-borne disease in north temperate regions worldwide, affecting an estimated 300,000 people annually in the United States alone. The incidence of LB is correlated with human exposure to its vector, the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis). To date, attempts to model tick encounter risk based on environmental parameters have been
Authors
Kathryn A. Berger, Howard S. Ginsberg, Katherine D. Dugas, Lutz H. Hamel, Thomas N. Mather
Tick control: Trapping, bio-control, host management and other alternative strategies
Biology of Ticks is the most comprehensive work on tick biology and tick-borne diseases. This second edition is a multi-authored work, featuring the research and analyses of renowned experts across the globe. Spanning two volumes, the book examines the systematics, biology, structure, ecological adaptations, evolution, genomics and the molecular processes that underpin the growth, development and
Authors
Howard S. Ginsberg
Relative humidity and activity patterns of Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae)
Laboratory studies have shown clear relationships between relative humidity (RH) and the activity and survival of Ixodes scapularis Say (blacklegged tick). However, field studies have produced conflicting results. We examined this relationship using weekly tick count totals and hourly RH observations at three field sites, stratified by latitude, within the state of Rhode Island. Records of nymphal
Authors
K.A. Berger, Howard S. Ginsberg, L. Gonzalez, T.N. Mather
Environmental management of mosquito-borne viruses in Rhode Island
West Nile Virus (WNV) and Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus (EEEV) are both primarily bird viruses, which can be transmitted by several mosquito species. Differences in larval habitats, flight, and biting patterns of the primary vector species result in substantial differences in epidemiology, with WNV more common, primarily occurring in urban areas, and EEEV relatively rare, typically occurring n
Authors
Howard S. Ginsberg, Alan Gettman, Elisabeth Becker, Ananda S. Bandyopadhyay, Roger A. LeBrun
Science and Products
Filter Total Items: 109
Effect of phenology on agonistic competitive interactions between invasive and native sheet-web spiders
The phenologies of introduced relative to native species can greatly influence the degree and symmetry of competition between them. The European spider Linyphia triangularis (Clerck, 1757) (Linyphiidae) reaches very high densities in coastal Maine (USA). Previous studies suggest thatL. triangularis negatively affects native linyphiid species, with competition for webs as one mechanism. We document
Authors
Jeremy D. Houser, Adam H. Porter, Howard S. Ginsberg, Elizabeth M. Jakob
Design for mosquito abundance, diversity, and phenology sampling within the National Ecological Observatory Network
The National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) intends to monitor mosquito populations across its broad geographical range of sites because of their prevalence in food webs, sensitivity to abiotic factors and relevance for human health. We describe the design of mosquito population sampling in the context of NEON’s long term continental scale monitoring program, emphasizing the sampling design
Authors
D. Hoekman, Yuri P. Springer, C.M. Barker, R. Barrera, M.S. Blackmore, W.E. Bradshaw, D. H. Foley, Howard S. Ginsberg, M. H. Hayden, C. M. Holzapfel, S. A. Juliano, L. D. Kramer, S. L. LaDeau, T. P. Livdahl, C. G. Moore, R.S. Nasci, W.K. Reisen, H. M. Savage
A dynamic population model to investigate effects of climate and climate-independent factors on the lifecycle of the tick Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae)
The lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum, is a disease vector of significance for human and animal health throughout much of the eastern United States. To model the potential effects of climate change on this tick, a better understanding is needed of the relative roles of temperature-dependent and temperature-independent (day-length-dependent behavioral or morphogenetic diapause) processes acting
Authors
Antoinette Ludwig, Howard S. Ginsberg, Graham J. Hickling, Nicholas H. Ogden
Different populations of blacklegged tick nymphs exhibit differences in questing behavior that have implications for human lyme disease risk
Animal behavior can have profound effects on pathogen transmission and disease incidence. We studied the questing (= host-seeking) behavior of blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis) nymphs, which are the primary vectors of Lyme disease in the eastern United States. Lyme disease is common in northern but not in southern regions, and prior ecological studies have found that standard methods used to co
Authors
Isis M. Arsnoe, Graham J. Hickling, Howard S. Ginsberg, Richard McElreath, Jean I. Tsao
Competition between introduced and native spiders (Araneae: Linyphiidae)
The European sheet-web spider Linyphia triangularis (Araneae: Linyphiidae) has become established in Maine, where it often reaches very high densities. Two lines of evidence from previous work suggest that L. triangularis affects populations of the native linyphiid spider Frontinella communis. First, F. communis individuals are relatively scarce in both forest and coastal habitat where L. triangul
Authors
J.D. Houser, Howard S. Ginsberg, Elizabeth M. Jakob
Comparison of survival patterns of northern and southern genotypes of the North American tick Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae) under northern and southern conditions
BackgroundSeveral investigators have reported genetic differences between northern and southern populations of Ixodes scapularis in North America, as well as differences in patterns of disease transmission. Ecological and behavioral correlates of these genetic differences, which might have implications for disease transmission, have not been reported. We compared survival of northern with that of
Authors
Howard S. Ginsberg, Eric L. Rulison, Alexandra Azevedo, Genevieve C. Pang, Isis M. Kuczaj, Jean I. Tsao, Roger A. LeBrun
Minimal role of eastern fence lizards in Borrelia burgdorferi transmission in central New Jersey oak/pine woodlands
The Eastern fence lizard, Sceloporus undulatus, is widely distributed in eastern and central North America, ranging through areas with high levels of Lyme disease, as well as areas where Lyme disease is rare or absent. We studied the potential role of S. undulatus in transmission dynamics of Lyme spirochetes by sampling ticks from a variety of natural hosts at field sites in central New Jersey, an
Authors
Eric L. Rulison, Kaetlyn T Kerr, Megan C Dyer, Seungeun Han, Russell L. Burke, Jean I. Tsao, Howard S. Ginsberg
Effect of temperature on feeding period of larval blacklegged ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) on eastern fence lizards
Ambient temperature can influence tick development time, and can potentially affect tick interactions with pathogens and with vertebrate hosts. We studied the effect of ambient temperature on duration of attachment of larval blacklegged ticks, Ixodes scapularis Say, to eastern fence lizards, Sceloporus undulatus (Bose & Daudin). Feeding periods of larvae that attached to lizards under preferred te
Authors
Eric L. Rulison, Roger A. LeBrun, Howard S. Ginsberg
Adverse moisture events predict seasonal abundance of Lyme disease vector ticks (Ixodes scapularis)
Background: Lyme borreliosis (LB) is the most commonly reported vector-borne disease in north temperate regions worldwide, affecting an estimated 300,000 people annually in the United States alone. The incidence of LB is correlated with human exposure to its vector, the blacklegged tick (Ixodes scapularis). To date, attempts to model tick encounter risk based on environmental parameters have been
Authors
Kathryn A. Berger, Howard S. Ginsberg, Katherine D. Dugas, Lutz H. Hamel, Thomas N. Mather
Tick control: Trapping, bio-control, host management and other alternative strategies
Biology of Ticks is the most comprehensive work on tick biology and tick-borne diseases. This second edition is a multi-authored work, featuring the research and analyses of renowned experts across the globe. Spanning two volumes, the book examines the systematics, biology, structure, ecological adaptations, evolution, genomics and the molecular processes that underpin the growth, development and
Authors
Howard S. Ginsberg
Relative humidity and activity patterns of Ixodes scapularis (Acari: Ixodidae)
Laboratory studies have shown clear relationships between relative humidity (RH) and the activity and survival of Ixodes scapularis Say (blacklegged tick). However, field studies have produced conflicting results. We examined this relationship using weekly tick count totals and hourly RH observations at three field sites, stratified by latitude, within the state of Rhode Island. Records of nymphal
Authors
K.A. Berger, Howard S. Ginsberg, L. Gonzalez, T.N. Mather
Environmental management of mosquito-borne viruses in Rhode Island
West Nile Virus (WNV) and Eastern Equine Encephalitis Virus (EEEV) are both primarily bird viruses, which can be transmitted by several mosquito species. Differences in larval habitats, flight, and biting patterns of the primary vector species result in substantial differences in epidemiology, with WNV more common, primarily occurring in urban areas, and EEEV relatively rare, typically occurring n
Authors
Howard S. Ginsberg, Alan Gettman, Elisabeth Becker, Ananda S. Bandyopadhyay, Roger A. LeBrun