Amphibian abundance is associated with reduced mosquito presence in human‐modified landscapes

Abstract

AbstractThe impacts of landscape anthropization on mosquito abundance and diversity are already well studied, but the underlying ecological factors behind these effects are still poorly understood. One such underlying ecological factor may be related to the loss of amphibians in human‐modified landscapes, providing ideal habitats for several mosquito species. In this study, we conducted a mosquito and amphibian larvae survey in 77 ponds along a gradient of landscape anthropization in western Switzerland. We used structural equation models to investigate the direct and indirect effects of building footprints and several local pond parameters on mosquito abundance and composition through amphibian abundance. We highlighted that landscape anthropization increases the presence probability of mosquito larvae and the proportion of Culex pipiens in mosquito communities. Our results also suggested that one of the ecological mechanisms underlying these effects is a reduction in amphibian abundance, limiting competition and predation experienced by mosquitoes in human‐modified landscapes. In addition, we showed that several local pond characteristics prevent the presence and abundance of mosquito larvae. Indeed, deep ponds, which promote amphibian abundance, limit the probability of larval mosquito presence, and large and old ponds have a lower larval mosquito abundance. Amphibians appear to be effective control agents of natural mosquito populations. Therefore, the development of measures to protect amphibians in human‐modified landscapes could help to reduce both mosquito‐related nuisances and the risk of emergence of vector‐borne diseases in humans and wildlife.