Estimation of Population Size and Dispersal of Aedes polynesiensis on Toamaro motu, French Polynesia

• Published in: Journal of medical entomology 2012-09, Vol.49 (5), p.971-980
• Main Authors: Mercer, David R., Marie, Jerome, Bossin, Herve, Faaruia, Marc, Tetuanui, Albert, Sang, Michel Cheong, Dobson, Stephen L.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: adults; Aedes; Aedes polynesiensis; Animals; Biological and medical sciences; dry season; Female; females; French Polynesia; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Lincoln-Petersen Index; Male; males; mark-recapture studies; mark-release-recapture; Medically important nuisances and vectors, pests of stored products and materials: population survey and control; mosquito vector population; Polynesia; Population Density; population size; SAMPLING, DISTRIBUTION, DISPERSAL; Seasons; traps; Vectors. Intermediate hosts; Weather; wet season
• ISSN: 0022-2585; 1938-2928
• DOI: 10.1603/ME11234

Mark-release-recapture methods were used to compare Aedes polynesiensis Marks adult numbers and dispersal between dry and wet seasons in a closed population on a small island (motu) in French Polynesia. Females were more than three times more common during wet (December 2008) than dry (May 2007) season samplings although high numbers of vectors were collected during both seasons. Lincoln—Petersen estimates for Ae. polynesiensis females on the motu were 6,055 per hectare for the dry season and 18,860 per hectare for the wet season. Marked females dispersed rapidly to all parts of the motu and survived until recaptures on days 1–5 after release. Males were not adequately sampled using human sentinels or Biogent Sentinel traps.