Worldwide impacts of landscape anthropization on mosquito abundance and diversity: A meta‐analysis. (27th September 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Perrin, Antoine; Glaizot, Olivier; Christe, Philippe
• Is Part Of: Global change biology. Volume 28:Number 23(2022)
• Page Start: 6857
• Page End: 6871
• Publication Date: 2022-09-27
• Subjects: agricultural development -- deforestation -- Diptera -- landscape changes -- pathogen vectors -- urbanization; Climatic changes -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Troposphere -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Biodiversity conservation -- Periodicals; Eutrophication -- Periodicals; 551.5
• DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16406
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1354-1013

Abstract

Abstract: In recent decades, the emergence and resurgence of vector‐borne diseases have been well documented worldwide, especially in tropical regions where protection and defense tools for human populations are still very limited. In this context, the dynamics of pathogens are influenced by landscape anthropization (i.e., urbanization, deforestation, and agricultural development), and one of the mechanisms through which this occurs is a change in the abundance and/or diversity of the vectors. An increasing number of empirical studies have described heterogeneous effects of landscape anthropization on vector communities; therefore, it is difficult to have an overall picture of these effects on a global scale. Here, we performed a meta‐analysis to quantify the impacts of landscape anthropization on a global scale on the presence/abundance and diversity of mosquitoes, the most important arthropods affecting human health. We obtained 338 effect sizes on 132 mosquito species, compiled from 107 studies in 52 countries that covered almost every part of the world. The results of the meta‐analysis showed an overall decline of mosquito presence/abundance and diversity in response to urbanization, deforestation, and agricultural development, except for a few mosquito species that have been able to exploit landscape anthropization well. Our results highlighted that these few favored mosquito species are those of global concern. They, thus, provide a better understanding of the overall effect of landscape anthropization on vector communities and, more importantly, suggest a greater risk of emergence and transmission of vector‐borne diseases in human‐modified landscapes. Abstract : Understanding how land‐use changes affect mosquito abundance and diversity is a step towards a better understanding of vector‐borne pathogen dynamics in human‐modified landscapes. In this meta‐analysis, we highlight that urbanization, deforestation, and agricultural development lead to a general decline in mosquito diversity and a decrease in most mosquito abundance, favouring the only species adapted to human‐modified landscapes. These few species are confirmed vectors of multiple human pathogens. This thus suggests a higher human risk of vector‐borne diseases in more anthropized areas.