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Colonization of ephemeral water bodies in the wheatbelt of Western Australia by assemblages of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae): role of environmental factors, habitat, and disturbance

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-17, 13:50 authored by Scott CarverScott Carver, Spafford, H, Storey, A, Weinstein, P
Environmental disturbance may have direct and indirect impacts on organisms. We studied the colonization of ephemeral water bodies by mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in the Wheatbelt region of southwest Western Australia, an area substantially affected by an expanding anthropogenic salinization. Mosquitoes frequently colonized ephemeral water bodies, responded positively to rainfall, and populated smaller water bodies more densely than larger water bodies. We found that the habitat characteristics of ephemeral water bodies changed in association with salinity. Consequently relationships between salinity and abundance of colonizing mosquitoes were direct (salinityÐmosquito) and indirect (salinityÐwater body characteristicsÐmosquito). Overall, the structure of mosquito assemblages changed with increasing salinity, favoring an increased regional distribution and abundance of Aedes camptorhynchus Thomson (Diptera: Culicidae), a vector of Ross river virus (RRV; Togoviridae: Alphavirus). We conclude secondary salinization in the Western Australia Wheatbelt results in enhanced vectorial potential for RRV transmission.

History

Publication title

Environmental Entomology

Volume

38

Issue

6

Pagination

1585-1594

ISSN

0046-225X

Department/School

School of Natural Sciences

Publisher

Entomological Society of America

Place of publication

9301 Annapolis Rd, Lanham, USA, Md, 20706

Rights statement

Copyright 2009 Entomological Society of America

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Assessment and management of Antarctic and Southern Ocean ecosystems

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