Abstract
Serious concerns have arisen regarding urbanization processes in western Amazônia, which result in the creation of artificial habitats, promoting the colonization of malaria vectors. We used structural equation modelling to investigate direct and indirect effects of forest cover on larval habitats and anopheline assemblages in different seasons. We found 3474 larvae in the dry season and 6603 in the rainy season, totalling ten species and confirming the presence of malaria vectors across all sites. Forest cover had direct and indirect (through limnological variables) effects on the composition of larval anopheline assemblages in the rainy season. However, during the dry season, forest cover directly affected larval distribution and habitat variables (with no indirect affects). Additionally, artificial larval habitats promote ideal conditions for malaria vectors in Amazonia, mainly during the rainy season, with positive consequences for anopheline assemblages. Therefore, the application of integrated management can be carried out during both seasons. However, we suggest that the dry season is the optimal time because larval habitats are more limited, smaller in volume and more accessible for applying vector control techniques.
Highlights
Urbanization, loss of native vegetation and habitat modification have dramatically altered tropical forests globally[1,2]
We untangled how the direct and indirect paths of forest cover and water quality variables interact and shape anopheline assemblages in two seasons
We found that forest cover had stronger direct and indirect influence on larval anopheline assemblage composition in the rainy season than the dry season
Summary
Urbanization, loss of native vegetation and habitat modification have dramatically altered tropical forests globally[1,2] These land use changes have led to losses of biodiversity and ecosystem s ervices[3,4] and affected the population dynamics of vector mosquitoes with important consequences for public health[5,6]. Deforestation and urbanization increase the number and distribution of habitats available for the malaria vector Anopheles darlingi Root, 1926, thereby expanding malaria transmission[6]. We hypothesized that forest loss and limnological variables would affect mosquito assemblages in the rainy and dry seasons differently because of their differing effects on mosquito habitat conditions (Fig. 1). During the dry season, water levels are decreased and organic matter is concentrated, strengthening effects of limnological variables on mosquito assemblages
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