Investigating distributions, abundances, and connectivity of mosquito vectors
Understanding the potential geographic distribution of mosquito species, the environmental drivers of their abundances, and how mosquito populations are connected across changing landscapes provides important information toward optimizing control strategies. Advances in geospatial technologies and new analytical approaches facilitate efforts to characterize distributions, abundances, and connectivity of mosquito species.
Central to these investigations is the incorporation of remotely sensed satellite imagery and geographic information systems to quantify environmental conditions that impact mosquitoes. A multi-disciplinary modeling approach, drawing on methods from distributional ecology, landscape ecology, and landscape genetics, provides a robust toolset from which to investigate these questions.
Model outputs include maps that help delineate the potential distributions of mosquito species, parameterize environmental variables that impact mosquito abundances, and characterize connectivity between mosquito populations across the landscape. These outputs may be utilized to inform mosquito control strategies, including decisions regarding the geographic extent, timing, and optimal approaches of control applications in different areas.
Relevant publications:
Campbell LP & Alexander AM. (2017). Landscape genetics of Aedes mcintoshi (Diptera: Culicidae), an important vector of Rift Valley fever virus in Northeastern Kenya. J. Med. Entomol., 54(5): 1258-1265.
Peterson AT, Campbell LP, Moo-Llanes D, Travi B, C González, Ferro MC, Ferreira GEM, Filho SB, Cupolillo E, Ramsey J, Leffer AMC, May AP, Shaw JJ. Influences of climate change on the potential distribution of Lutzomyia longipalpis sensu lato (Psychodidae: Phlebotominae). (2017). Int. J. Parasitol., 47:667-674.
Campbell, LP, Luther C, Peterson AT. (2015) Climate Change Influences on Global Vector Distributions for Dengue and Chikungunya Viruses. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. B. 370: 20140135.
Contact: Lindsay P Campbell
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