Changes in Container-Breeding Mosquito Diversity and Abundance Along an Urbanization Gradient are Associated With Dominance of Arboviral Vectors

Environmental conditions associated with urbanization are likely to influence the composition and abundance of mosquito (Diptera, Culicidae) assemblages through effects on juvenile stages, with important consequences for human disease risk. We present six years (2011–2016) of weekly juvenile mosquit...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of medical entomology 2022-05, Vol.59 (3), p.843-854
Main Authors: Zettle, MyKenna, Anderson, Elsa, LaDeau, Shannon L.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Abundance
Aedes albopictus
Analysis
Aquatic insects
arthropod
biodiversity
Biological diversity
Breeding
Composition
Containers
Environmental conditions
Growing season
Health risks
Larvae
Mosquitoes
POPULATION AND COMMUNITY ECOLOGY
Species richness
Temperature effects
urban
Urban environments
Urbanization
Vectors
virus
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Summary:Environmental conditions associated with urbanization are likely to influence the composition and abundance of mosquito (Diptera, Culicidae) assemblages through effects on juvenile stages, with important consequences for human disease risk. We present six years (2011–2016) of weekly juvenile mosquito data from distributed standardized ovitraps and evaluate how variation in impervious cover and temperature affect the composition and abundance of container-breeding mosquito species in Maryland, USA. Species richness and evenness were lowest at sites with high impervious cover (>60% in 100-m buffer). However, peak diversity was recorded at sites with intermediate impervious cover (28–35%). Four species were observed at all sites, including two recent invasives (Aedes albopictus Skuse, Ae. japonicus Theobald), an established resident (Culex pipiens L), and one native (Cx. restuansTheobald). All four are viral vectors in zoonotic or human transmission cycles. Temperature was a positive predictor of weekly larval abundance during the growing season for each species, as well as a positive predictor of rapid pupal development. Despite being observed at all sites, each species responded differently to impervious cover. Abundance of Ae. albopictus larvae was positively associated with impervious cover, emphasizing that this medically-important vector not only persists in the warmer, impervious urban landscape but is positively associated with it. Positive temperature effects in our models of larval abundance and pupae occurrence in container habitats suggest that these four vector species are likely to continue to be present and abundant in temperate cities under future temperature scenarios.
ISSN:0022-2585
1938-2928
DOI:10.1093/jme/tjac023