Lyme disease (burreliosis) risk is dependent on the
density of blacklegged ticks (Ixodes scapularis) that are
infected with the Lyme disease bacterium, Borrelia
burgdorferi. Therefore, fluctuations in Lyme disease risk
have been hypothesized to be the result of either
fluctuating weather conditions affecting tick survival or
fluctuating acorn production affecting the behavior and
abundance of mammals that act as tick hosts and
reservoirs of B. Burgdorferi.