Mosquitoes in urban green spaces: using an island biogeographic approach to identify drivers of species richness and composition

Abstract

Mosquitoes are well known for their epidemiological importance as vectors of a wide range of human pathogens. Despite the many studies on medically important species, little is known about the diversity patterns of these insects in urban green spaces, which serve as shelter and refuge for many native and invasive species. Here, we investigate drivers of mosquito richness and composition in nine urban parks in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. Using the equilibrium theory of island biogeography, we tested predictive models for species richness and composition and performed nestedness analysis. We also investigated whether species loss tends to benefit vector mosquitoes. In the period 2011 to 2013, a total of 37,972 mosquitoes belonging to 73 species and 14 genera were collected. Our results suggest there is a species-area relationship, an increase in species similarity as richness is lost and a nested species composition pattern. Seven of the eight most commonly found species are considered vectors of human pathogens, suggesting a possible link between species loss and increased risk of pathogen transmission. Our data highlight the need for studies that seek to understand how species loss may affect the risk of infectious diseases in urban areas.

Zika and dengue viruses infecting wild-caught mosquitoes in an environmental protection area in Brazil

“…Many studies have reported the presence of mosquitoes that are considered important flavivirus vectors in fragments of the Atlantic Forest in various areas in the city of São Paulo [18,34-36] and state of São Paulo [4,37,38], but natural flavivirus infection in these mosquitoes had not been detected prior to the present study. This is also the first report of mosquitoes naturally infected with flaviviruses in a conservation unit in the city of São Paulo.…”

“…Terzian et al [33] detected ZIKV in non-human primates (NHPs) in urban and periurban areas in a city in the state of São Paulo and a few cities in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, suggesting that NHPs may be the vertebrate hosts responsible for circulation of ZIKV in these two states. The greatest diversity of Culicidae in Brazil is probably found in the Atlantic Forest [18], and several remnants of the Atlantic Forest can be found in various areas of the city of São Paulo, ranging from urban parks to conservation units. Conservation units farthest from the city center tend to be more preserved and consequently have greater mosquito diversity [18,34].…”

“…The greatest diversity of Culicidae in Brazil is probably found in the Atlantic Forest [18], and several remnants of the Atlantic Forest can be found in various areas of the city of São Paulo, ranging from urban parks to conservation units. Conservation units farthest from the city center tend to be more preserved and consequently have greater mosquito diversity [18,34]. While the Capivari-Monos EPA is still a well-preserved area, it has recently undergone anthropic modifications that have led to fragmentation of the landscape [17,34].…”

Vigilância entomológica de vetores de arbovírus na cidade de São Paulo: análise espaço temporal de criadouros, de acordo com fatores sazonais e socioeconômicos, no período de 2012 a 2016

“…As mudanças climáticas podem influenciar diretamente a dispersão do mosquito e transmissão de patógenos em áreas onde aumentos de temperatura acabam possibilitando a sua proliferação. Alguns estudos têm demonstrado que essas variações podem influenciar diretamente o comportamento do vetor, aumentando o número de picadas do mosquito, elevando as taxas de desenvolvimento, além da capacidade reprodutora do vírus no vetor (WATTS et al, 1987;REITER, 1988;RUEDA et al, 1990;TUN-LIN;BURKOT;KAY 2000;REITER 2001;ASTROM et al, 2013;MEDLOCK;LEACH, 2015;EHELEPOLA;ARIYARATNE, 2016;PANCN et al, 2016;AKTER et al, 2017). DAVID;OLIVEIRA;FREITAS, 2009;LOURENÇO DE OLIVEIRA, 2015).…”

Estudo da fauna de mosquitos (Diptera: Culicidae) com simultânea investigação de infecção natural por Flavivirus em duas Unidades de Conservação da Mata Atlântica, Estado de São Paulo

“…, distribuídos em nove gêneros em dois parques(CARVALHO et al, 2017); 37.972 culicídeos catalogados 73 táxons, distribuídos em 14 gêneros em nove parques(MEDEIROS-SOUSA et al, 2017). Ru.…”