Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 26, 2025

An Experimental and Bioinformatics Protocol for RNA-seq Analyses of Photoperiodic Diapause in the Asian Tiger Mosquito, Aedes albopictus
Published on: November 30, 2014
Deforestation for oil palm increases microclimate suitability for the development of the disease vector Aedes
E S Saager1, T Iwamura2, T Jucker3
1Centre for Translational Immunology, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands. e.s.saager-2@umcutrecht.nl.
Abstract:
A major trade-off of land-use change is the potential for increased risk of infectious diseases, a.o. through impacting disease vector life-cycles. Evaluating the public health implications of land-use conversions requires spatially detailed modelling linking land-use to vector ecology. Here, we estimate the impact of deforestation for oil palm cultivation on the number of life-cycle completions of Aedes albopictus via its impact on local microclimates. We apply a recently developed mechanistic phenology model to a fine-scaled (50-m resolution) microclimate dataset that includes daily temperature, rainfall and evaporation. Results of this combined model indicate that the conversion from lowland rainforest to plantations increases suitability for A. albopictus development by 10.8%, moderated to 4.7% with oil palm growth to maturity. Deforestation followed by typical plantation planting-maturation-clearance-replanting cycles is predicted to create pulses of high development suitability. Our results highlight the need to explore sustainable land-use scenarios that resolve conflicts between agricultural and human health objectives.
Related Concept Videos
Adaptations that Reduce Water Loss
Global Climate Change
Responses to Drought and Flooding
Habitat Fragmentation
What is Climate?

