Tropical wetland-associated mosquitoes: species composition and implications for public health and ecosystem conservation

Abstract

Mosquitoes are closely associated with wetlands, as stagnant water in these ecosystems provides an ideal environment for the development of their immature stages. Human activities, such as artificial drainage for mosquito control, impact the ecological integrity of these ecosystems. Therefore, the objective was to compare the species composition of mosquitoes in two types of wetlands (swamp and herbaceous wetland) and a nearby human settlement, and determine the degree of risk, advocating for the conservation of these ecosystems. Collection of mosquito immature stages was conducted throughout on year in the municipality of Jamapa, in Veracruz state, Mexico. The richness and abundance of the collected species were determined, and the species composition of each site was compared through cluster and beta diversity analysis and analysis of similarity. The richness was higher in the two wetlands, and the abundance in human settlements. The species composition was different in all three sites. Mosquito species posing higher health risks were found in human settlements, and those posing lower risks in the swamp. As a result, it was possible to determine a disturbance gradient, with human settlements at the negative end of the gradient, the herbaceous wetland in the middle, and the swamp at the positive end, demonstrating that ecosystems preserving their original flora and fauna do not represent a significant risk for the transmission of mosquito-borne diseases.