Effects of landscape anthropization on mosquito community composition and abundance

Anthropogenic landscape transformation has an important effect on vector-borne pathogen transmission. However, the effects of urbanization on mosquito communities are still only poorly known. Here, we evaluate how land-use characteristics are related to the abundance and community composition of mosquitoes in an area with endemic circulation of numerous mosquito-borne pathogens. We collected 340 829 female mosquitoes belonging to 13 species at 45 localities spatially grouped in 15 trios formed by 1 urban, 1 rural and 1 natural area. Mosquito abundance and species richness were greater in natural and rural areas than in urban areas. Environmental factors including land use, vegetation and hydrological characteristics were related to mosquito abundance and community composition. Given the differing competences of each species in pathogen transmission, these results provide valuable information on the transmission potential of mosquito-borne pathogens that will be of great use in public and animal health management by allowing, for instance, the identification of the priority areas for pathogen surveillance and vector controlThis study was funded by project P11-RNM-7038 from the Junta de Andalucía, and project CGL2012-30759 from the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and European Regional Development Fund (FEDER). Funds were also partially provided by EU grant HEALTH.2010.2.3.3-3 project 261391 EuroWestNile and by RNM118 and RNM153 from Junta de Andalucía. Information on remote sensing variables was obtained with the financial support of the project CGL2006-02247/BOS. M.F. and J.M.P. were supported by a FPU grant and a Juan de la Cierva contract, respectively.EUR 1,165 APC fee funded by the EC FP7 Post-Grant Open Access PilotPeer reviewe