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(Reference retrieved automatically from Web of Science through information on FAPESP grant and its corresponding number as mentioned in the publication by the authors.)

Diversity and abundance of mosquitoes (Diptera:Culicidae) in an urban park: Larval habitats and temporal variation

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Author(s):
Medeiros-Sousa, Antonio R. [1] ; Ceretti-Junior, Walter [1] ; de Carvalho, Gabriela C. [1] ; Nardi, Marcello S. [2] ; Araujo, Alessandra B. [3] ; Vendrami, Daniel P. [4] ; Marrelli, Mauro T. [1, 4]
Total Authors: 7
Affiliation:
[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Saude Publ, Dept Epidemiol, BR-01246904 Sao Paulo, SP - Brazil
[2] Prefeitura Sao Paulo, Dept Parques & Areas Verdes, BR-04030090 Sao Paulo - Brazil
[3] Prefeitura Sao Paulo, Ctr Controle Zoonoses, BR-02031020 Sao Paulo - Brazil
[4] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Med Trop Sao Paulo, BR-05403000 Sao Paulo - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 4
Document type: Journal article
Source: Acta Tropica; v. 150, p. 200-209, OCT 2015.
Web of Science Citations: 19
Abstract

Urban parks are areas designated for human recreation but also serve as shelter and refuge for populations of several species of native fauna, both migratory and introduced. In Brazil, the effect of annual climate variations on Aedes aegypti and dengue epidemics in large cities like Sao Paulo is well known, but little is known about how such variations can affect the diversity of mosquito vectors in urban parks and the risk of disease transmission by these vectors. This study investigates the influence of larval habitats and seasonal factors on the diversity and abundance of Culicidae fauna in Anhanguera Park, one of the largest remaining green areas in the city of Sao Paulo. Species composition and richness and larval habitats were identified. Seasonality (cold-dry and hot-rainy periods) and year were considered as explanatory variables and the models selection approach was developed to investigate the relationship of these variables with mosquito diversity and abundance. A total of 11,036 specimens from 57 taxa distributed in 13 genera were collected. Culex nigripalpus, Cx. quinquefasciatus and Aedes albopictus were the most abundant species. Bamboo internodes and artificial breeding sites showed higher abundance, while ponds and puddles showed greater richness. Significant relationships were observed between abundance and seasonality, with a notable increase in the mosquitos abundance in the warm-rainy periods. The Shannon and Berger Parker indices were related with interaction between seasonality and year, however separately these predictors showed no relationship with ones. The increased abundance of mosquitoes in warm-rainy months and the fact that some of the species are epidemiologically important increase not only the risk of pathogen transmission to people who frequent urban parks but also the nuisance represented by insect bites. The findings of this study highlight the importance of knowledge of culicid ecology in green areas in urban environments. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. (AU)

FAPESP's process: 10/51230-8 - Biodiversity of mosquitoes (Diptera : Culicidae) in the city of São Paulo municipal parks
Grantee:Mauro Toledo Marrelli
Support Opportunities: BIOTA-FAPESP Program - Regular Research Grants