Australian mosquito assemblages vary between ground and sub-canopy habitats
Abstract Background The surveillance and control of mosquito-borne diseases is dependent upon understanding the bionomics and distribution of the vectors. Most studies of mosquito assemblages describe species abundance, richness and composition close to the ground defined often by only one sampling...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-10-01
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| Series: | Parasites & Vectors |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-021-04999-6 |
| _version_ | 1818695269121785856 |
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| author | Boni F. Sebayang Tanya L. Russell Kyran M. Staunton Michael Townsend Christopher Paton Tovi Lehmann Thomas R. Burkot |
| author_facet | Boni F. Sebayang Tanya L. Russell Kyran M. Staunton Michael Townsend Christopher Paton Tovi Lehmann Thomas R. Burkot |
| author_sort | Boni F. Sebayang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The surveillance and control of mosquito-borne diseases is dependent upon understanding the bionomics and distribution of the vectors. Most studies of mosquito assemblages describe species abundance, richness and composition close to the ground defined often by only one sampling method. In this study, we assessed Australian mosquito species near the ground and in the sub-canopy using two traps baited with a variety of lures. Methods Mosquitoes were sampled using a 4 × 4 Latin square design at the Cattana Wetlands, Australia from February to April 2020, using passive box traps with octenol and carbon dioxide and three variations of a sticky net trap (unbaited, and baited with octenol or octenol and carbon dioxide). The traps were deployed at two different heights: ground level (≤ 1 m above the ground) and sub-canopy level (6 m above the ground). Results In total, 27 mosquito species were identified across the ground and sub-canopy levels from the different traps. The abundance of mosquitoes at the ground level was twofold greater than at the sub-canopy level. While the species richness at ground and sub-canopy levels was not significantly different, species abundance varied by the collection height. Conclusions The composition of mosquito population assemblages was correlated with the trap types and heights at which they were deployed. Coquillettidia species, which prefer feeding on birds, were mainly found in the sub-canopy whereas Anopheles farauti, Aedes vigilax and Mansonia uniformis, which have a preference for feeding on large mammals, were predominantly found near the ground. In addition to trap height, environmental factors and mosquito bionomic characteristics (e.g. larval habitat, resting behaviour and host blood preferences) may explain the vertical distribution of mosquitoes. This information is useful to better understand how vectors may acquire and transmit pathogens to hosts living at different heights. Graphical abstract |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-17T13:42:47Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-846318255bdd40a6957f4c07e1494620 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1756-3305 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-17T13:42:47Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Parasites & Vectors |
| spelling | doaj.art-846318255bdd40a6957f4c07e14946202022-12-21T21:46:14ZengBMCParasites & Vectors1756-33052021-10-0114111110.1186/s13071-021-04999-6Australian mosquito assemblages vary between ground and sub-canopy habitatsBoni F. Sebayang0Tanya L. Russell1Kyran M. Staunton2Michael Townsend3Christopher Paton4Tovi Lehmann5Thomas R. Burkot6Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine (AITHM), James Cook UniversityAustralian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine (AITHM), James Cook UniversityAustralian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine (AITHM), James Cook UniversityAustralian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine (AITHM), James Cook UniversityAustralian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine (AITHM), James Cook UniversityLaboratory of Malaria and Vector Research, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAH), National Institutes of Health (NIH)Australian Institute of Tropical Health and Medicine (AITHM), James Cook UniversityAbstract Background The surveillance and control of mosquito-borne diseases is dependent upon understanding the bionomics and distribution of the vectors. Most studies of mosquito assemblages describe species abundance, richness and composition close to the ground defined often by only one sampling method. In this study, we assessed Australian mosquito species near the ground and in the sub-canopy using two traps baited with a variety of lures. Methods Mosquitoes were sampled using a 4 × 4 Latin square design at the Cattana Wetlands, Australia from February to April 2020, using passive box traps with octenol and carbon dioxide and three variations of a sticky net trap (unbaited, and baited with octenol or octenol and carbon dioxide). The traps were deployed at two different heights: ground level (≤ 1 m above the ground) and sub-canopy level (6 m above the ground). Results In total, 27 mosquito species were identified across the ground and sub-canopy levels from the different traps. The abundance of mosquitoes at the ground level was twofold greater than at the sub-canopy level. While the species richness at ground and sub-canopy levels was not significantly different, species abundance varied by the collection height. Conclusions The composition of mosquito population assemblages was correlated with the trap types and heights at which they were deployed. Coquillettidia species, which prefer feeding on birds, were mainly found in the sub-canopy whereas Anopheles farauti, Aedes vigilax and Mansonia uniformis, which have a preference for feeding on large mammals, were predominantly found near the ground. In addition to trap height, environmental factors and mosquito bionomic characteristics (e.g. larval habitat, resting behaviour and host blood preferences) may explain the vertical distribution of mosquitoes. This information is useful to better understand how vectors may acquire and transmit pathogens to hosts living at different heights. Graphical abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-021-04999-6Vertical distributionAustralian mosquitoesMosquito trapsHeight |
| spellingShingle | Boni F. Sebayang Tanya L. Russell Kyran M. Staunton Michael Townsend Christopher Paton Tovi Lehmann Thomas R. Burkot Australian mosquito assemblages vary between ground and sub-canopy habitats Parasites & Vectors Vertical distribution Australian mosquitoes Mosquito traps Height |
| title | Australian mosquito assemblages vary between ground and sub-canopy habitats |
| title_full | Australian mosquito assemblages vary between ground and sub-canopy habitats |
| title_fullStr | Australian mosquito assemblages vary between ground and sub-canopy habitats |
| title_full_unstemmed | Australian mosquito assemblages vary between ground and sub-canopy habitats |
| title_short | Australian mosquito assemblages vary between ground and sub-canopy habitats |
| title_sort | australian mosquito assemblages vary between ground and sub canopy habitats |
| topic | Vertical distribution Australian mosquitoes Mosquito traps Height |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s13071-021-04999-6 |
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