Ticks and Their Mysterious Role in the Ecosystem

[RustyPine17]

I've been hearing more about ticks recently and got to wondering—do they actually do anything useful for the environment? I've mostly just known them as pests, but maybe there's more to the story. What do you all think?

 

[Bottom Gun]

They may serve as role models for politicians.

 

[Wooly Bugger]

I suppose they could be food for animals that clean other animals like some birds.

 

[old oak]

I think their function as vectors for disease would fit that bill, as diseases are life functions in the environment, though we do not like to think too much of those 'unseen' competitors.