Landscape and climatic factors shaping mosquito abundance and species composition in southern Spain: A machine learning approach to the study of vector ecology
Vector-borne diseases pose significant challenges to public health, with mosquitoes acting as crucial vectors for pathogens globally. This study explores the interaction between environmental and climate factors, investigating their influence on the abundance and species composition of mosquitoes in...
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| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Ecological Informatics |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1574954124004023 |
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| author | Martina Ferraguti Sergio Magallanes Carlos Mora-Rubio Daniel Bravo-Barriga Florentino de Lope Alfonso Marzal |
| author_facet | Martina Ferraguti Sergio Magallanes Carlos Mora-Rubio Daniel Bravo-Barriga Florentino de Lope Alfonso Marzal |
| author_sort | Martina Ferraguti |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Vector-borne diseases pose significant challenges to public health, with mosquitoes acting as crucial vectors for pathogens globally. This study explores the interaction between environmental and climate factors, investigating their influence on the abundance and species composition of mosquitoes in southwestern Spain, a region endemic to several mosquito-borne diseases.Using comprehensive field data from 2020, we analysed mosquito abundance and species richness alongside remote sensing variables and modeling techniques, including the machine learning Random Forest. We collected 5859 female mosquitoes representing 13 species. Non-linear correlations were observed between mosquito abundance and climatic variables, notably temperature and rainfall. Extremely high temperatures correlated with a decrease in mosquito abundance, while accumulated rainfall in the three weeks preceding sampling positively impacted mosquito abundance by providing breeding habitats. A positive correlation between Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and mosquito metrics was also found, aligning with prior studies highlighting vegetation's role shaping mosquito habitats. Interestingly, a negative relationship was observed between mosquito species richness and autumn NDVI. Additionally, wind speed negatively affected mosquito species richness.This research provides valuable insights into the ecological determinants of mosquito abundance and species composition in a Mediterranean climate. These findings are crucial for understanding disease transmission dynamics and improving vector control strategies. By integrating climatic characteristics into public health interventions, management measures can become more targeted and efficient, especially during periods of heightened temperature. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7ffe3314ed3043e09280a74dd3a5a55e |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1574-9541 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ecological Informatics |
| spelling | doaj-art-7ffe3314ed3043e09280a74dd3a5a55e2024-12-17T04:59:08ZengElsevierEcological Informatics1574-95412024-12-0184102860Landscape and climatic factors shaping mosquito abundance and species composition in southern Spain: A machine learning approach to the study of vector ecologyMartina Ferraguti0Sergio Magallanes1Carlos Mora-Rubio2Daniel Bravo-Barriga3Florentino de Lope4Alfonso Marzal5Department of Conservation Biology and Global Change, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD), CSIC, Seville, Spain; Departamento de Anatomía, Biología Celular y Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Extremadura, Avenida de Elvas s/n, 06006 Badajoz, Spain; Consorcio de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain; Corresponding author at: Department of Conservation Biology and Global Change, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD), CSIC, Seville, Spain.Department of Conservation Biology and Global Change, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD), CSIC, Seville, Spain; Departamento de Anatomía, Biología Celular y Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Extremadura, Avenida de Elvas s/n, 06006 Badajoz, Spain; Consorcio de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, SpainDepartamento de Anatomía, Biología Celular y Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Extremadura, Avenida de Elvas s/n, 06006 Badajoz, SpainDepartament of Animal Health Department (Parasitology and Parasitic Diseases), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Córdoba, Sanidad Animal Building, Rabanales Campus, Córdoba, Spain; Faculty of Veterinary, Department of Animal Health, Parasitology, University of Extremadura, Cáceres, SpainDepartamento de Anatomía, Biología Celular y Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Extremadura, Avenida de Elvas s/n, 06006 Badajoz, SpainDepartment of Conservation Biology and Global Change, Estación Biológica de Doñana (EBD), CSIC, Seville, Spain; Grupo de Investigaciones en Fauna Silvestre, Universidad Nacional de San Martín, Jr. Maynas 1777, 22021 Tarapoto, PeruVector-borne diseases pose significant challenges to public health, with mosquitoes acting as crucial vectors for pathogens globally. This study explores the interaction between environmental and climate factors, investigating their influence on the abundance and species composition of mosquitoes in southwestern Spain, a region endemic to several mosquito-borne diseases.Using comprehensive field data from 2020, we analysed mosquito abundance and species richness alongside remote sensing variables and modeling techniques, including the machine learning Random Forest. We collected 5859 female mosquitoes representing 13 species. Non-linear correlations were observed between mosquito abundance and climatic variables, notably temperature and rainfall. Extremely high temperatures correlated with a decrease in mosquito abundance, while accumulated rainfall in the three weeks preceding sampling positively impacted mosquito abundance by providing breeding habitats. A positive correlation between Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) and mosquito metrics was also found, aligning with prior studies highlighting vegetation's role shaping mosquito habitats. Interestingly, a negative relationship was observed between mosquito species richness and autumn NDVI. Additionally, wind speed negatively affected mosquito species richness.This research provides valuable insights into the ecological determinants of mosquito abundance and species composition in a Mediterranean climate. These findings are crucial for understanding disease transmission dynamics and improving vector control strategies. By integrating climatic characteristics into public health interventions, management measures can become more targeted and efficient, especially during periods of heightened temperature.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1574954124004023Insect vectorsLandscape ecologyMediterranean climateMosquito-borne diseasesRandom forestVector-borne diseases |
| spellingShingle | Martina Ferraguti Sergio Magallanes Carlos Mora-Rubio Daniel Bravo-Barriga Florentino de Lope Alfonso Marzal Landscape and climatic factors shaping mosquito abundance and species composition in southern Spain: A machine learning approach to the study of vector ecology Ecological Informatics Insect vectors Landscape ecology Mediterranean climate Mosquito-borne diseases Random forest Vector-borne diseases |
| title | Landscape and climatic factors shaping mosquito abundance and species composition in southern Spain: A machine learning approach to the study of vector ecology |
| title_full | Landscape and climatic factors shaping mosquito abundance and species composition in southern Spain: A machine learning approach to the study of vector ecology |
| title_fullStr | Landscape and climatic factors shaping mosquito abundance and species composition in southern Spain: A machine learning approach to the study of vector ecology |
| title_full_unstemmed | Landscape and climatic factors shaping mosquito abundance and species composition in southern Spain: A machine learning approach to the study of vector ecology |
| title_short | Landscape and climatic factors shaping mosquito abundance and species composition in southern Spain: A machine learning approach to the study of vector ecology |
| title_sort | landscape and climatic factors shaping mosquito abundance and species composition in southern spain a machine learning approach to the study of vector ecology |
| topic | Insect vectors Landscape ecology Mediterranean climate Mosquito-borne diseases Random forest Vector-borne diseases |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1574954124004023 |
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