Mosquitoes of field and forest: the scale of habitat segregation in a diverse mosquito assemblage

Knowledge of the distribution of arthropod vectors across a landscape is important in determining the risk for vector‐borne disease. This has been well explored for ticks, but not for mosquitoes, despite their importance in the transmission of a variety of pathogens. This study examined the importan...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Medical and veterinary entomology 2017-03, Vol.31 (1), p.44-54
Main Authors: REISKIND, M. H., GRIFFIN, R. H., JANAIRO, M. S., HOPPERSTAD, K. A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal Distribution
Animals
Biodiversity
Culicidae - physiology
Disease control
Disease ecology
Disease transmission
Ecosystem
Entomology
Forests
Grassland
habitat edges
Habitats
landscape ecology
Mosquitoes
North Carolina
Population Density
vector‐borne pathogens
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Summary:Knowledge of the distribution of arthropod vectors across a landscape is important in determining the risk for vector‐borne disease. This has been well explored for ticks, but not for mosquitoes, despite their importance in the transmission of a variety of pathogens. This study examined the importance of habitat, habitat edges, and the scale at which mosquito abundance and diversity vary in a rural landscape by trapping along transects from grassland areas into forest patches. Significant patterns of vector diversity and distinct mosquito assemblages across habitats were found. The scale of individual species' responses to habitat edges was often dramatic, with several species rarely straying even 10 m from the edge. The present results suggest blood‐seeking mosquito species are faithful to certain habitats, which has consequences for patterns of vector diversity and risk for pathogen transmission. This implies that analysts of risk for pathogen transmission and foci of control, and developers of land management strategies should assess habitat at a finer scale than previously considered.
ISSN:0269-283X
1365-2915
DOI:10.1111/mve.12193