Landscape Composition Affects Elements of Metacommunity Structure for Culicidae Across South-Eastern Illinois

Area of Science:

• Ecology
• Vector-borne disease epidemiology
• Environmental science

Background:

• Invasive alien vectors can alter pathogen transmission dynamics by interacting with native mosquito communities.
• Understanding the ecological niche and distribution of invasive species like Aedes albopictus is crucial for public health surveillance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the distribution and ecological associations of Aedes albopictus at the edge of its range in south-eastern Illinois.
• To analyze how mosquito community structure and land use influence the presence and abundance of invasive and native mosquito species.

Main Methods:

• A 2-year field survey of mosquito populations was conducted in south-eastern Illinois.
• Metacommunity and multivariate analyses were used to assess species distribution patterns and environmental associations.
• Land use data, including wetland proportions and urban development, were correlated with mosquito community structure.

Main Results:

• Aedes albopictus was found to be more broadly distributed than previously documented, occurring in nine new counties.
• Mosquito community structure exhibited a non-random, Clementsian gradient, indicating distinct species assemblages in specific habitats.
• Aedes albopictus abundance peaked in areas with low-to-intermediate mosquito species richness and was strongly associated with urban settlements, unlike native species like Ae. canadensis and Cx. pipiens.

Conclusions:

• Land use, particularly urban development, significantly shapes mosquito community structure and the distribution of invasive species.
• Niche differentiation plays a role in structuring mosquito communities in response to landscape changes.
• Integrating mosquito community assessments into One Health surveillance strategies can improve the prediction and prevention of vector-borne diseases.