Abstract
Mosquito community dynamics is affected by several factors including land use types, physico-chemical parameters and heavy metal content of breeding sites. Although critical for effective vector control and disease prevention, information about the effect of anthropized landscapes and concomitant environmental parameters on mosquito community structure is limited. This study assessed the mosquito community structure in two anthropogenically-modified landscapes (auto-mechanic industrial and residential) in Ghana and the factors influencing them. Mosquito larvae sampled from the study area were enumerated and reared to the adult stage. Physico-chemical characteristics and heavy metal concentrations of water samples from the breeding sites were also determined. Nonmetric multi-dimensional scaling (NMDS) ordinations, permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA) and redundancy analysis (RDA) were conducted to determine the pattern and variability of species composition and environmental factors that influence mosquito species distribution. Six mosquito species (Anopheles gambiae sensu lato, Anopheles funestus, Aedes aegypti, Culex quinquefasciatus, Culex decens and Mansonia sp.) were sampled from the residential area, while the same species except An. funestus and Mansonia sp. were found in the industrial area. The industrial area supported significantly higher mosquito numbers. Salinity, pH, Cu, Fe, Zn, Pb, electrical conductivity, Total Dissolved Solids, turbidity, and temperature of the breeding water related positively with Cx. quinquefaciatus, Cx decens and Mansonia sp. and negatively with Ae. aegypti, An. funestus and An. gambiae s. l. The study revealed the importance of landscape modification and environmental factors on mosquito community structure and the need to employ strategies aimed at eliminating man-made mosquito breeding sites.
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Data Availability
All data generated and/or analysed during this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.
Change history
21 November 2022
A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42690-022-00913-4
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Acknowledgements
The authors are grateful to Yaw Akuamoah-Boateng, Patrick Kwasi Obuam, Carlos Frimpong Akowuah, Prince Isaac Essien, Akosua Boateng and Gloria Mensah for providing assistance in mosquito identification and sampling.
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SWA, PKB and PAF conceived and designed the study. JO conducted the field and laboratory work. SWA and PAF coordinated the fieldwork. SWA and PKB coordinated the laboratory work. SWA, PKB and PAF supervised the study. PAF analyzed the data. JO wrote the first draft of the manuscript. SWA, PKB and PAF discussed and interpreted the results, revised and edited the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript.
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Oppong, J., Avicor, S.W., Baidoo, P.K. et al. Mosquito community structure in contrasting anthropized landscapes in the Kumasi Metropolis of Ghana. Int J Trop Insect Sci 43, 21–31 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s42690-022-00879-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s42690-022-00879-3