scholarly journals A comparative assessment of adult mosquito trapping methods to estimate spatial patterns of abundance and community composition in southern Africa

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin E. Gorsich ◽  
Brianna R. Beechler ◽  
Peter M. van Bodegom ◽  
Danny Govender ◽  
Milehna M. Guarido ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Community Composition ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Light Trap ◽  
Regional Distribution ◽  
Adult Mosquito ◽  
Sampling Effort ◽  
Regional Patterns ◽  
Mosquito Abundance ◽  
Trapping Methods ◽  
Surveillance Programs

AbstractBackgroundAssessing adult mosquito populations is an important component of disease surveillance programs and ecosystem health assessments. Inference from adult trapping datasets involves comparing populations across space and time, but comparisons based on different trapping methods may be biased if traps have different efficiencies or sample different subsets of the mosquito community.MethodsWe compared four widely-used trapping methods for adult mosquito data collection in Kruger National Park (KNP), South Africa: Centers for Disease Control miniature light trap (CDC), Biogents Sentinel trap (BG), Biogents gravid Aedes trap (GAT) and a net trap. We quantified how trap choice and sampling effort influence inferences on the regional distribution of mosquito abundance, richness and community composition.ResultsThe CDC and net traps together collected 96% (47% and 49% individually) of the 955 female mosquitoes sampled and 100% (85% and 78% individually) of the 40 species or species complexes identified. The CDC and net trap also identified similar regional patterns of community composition. However, inference on the regional patterns of abundance differed between these traps because mosquito abundance in the net trap was influenced by variation in weather conditions. The BG and GAT traps collected significantly fewer mosquitoes, limiting regional comparisons of abundance and community composition.ConclusionsThis study represents the first systematic assessment of trapping methods in natural savanna ecosystems in southern Africa. We recommend the CDC trap or the net trap for future monitoring and surveillance programs.

scholarly journals A comparative assessment of adult mosquito trapping methods to estimate spatial patterns of abundance and community composition in southern Africa

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin E. Gorsich ◽  
Brianna R. Beechler ◽  
Peter M. van Bodegom ◽  
Danny Govender ◽  
Milehna M. Guarido ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Community Composition ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Light Trap ◽  
Regional Distribution ◽  
Adult Mosquito ◽  
Sampling Effort ◽  
Regional Patterns ◽  
Mosquito Abundance ◽  
Trapping Methods ◽  
Surveillance Programs

Abstract Background Assessing adult mosquito populations is an important component of disease surveillance programs and ecosystem health assessments. Inference from adult trapping datasets involves comparing populations across space and time, but comparisons based on different trapping methods may be biased if traps have different efficiencies or sample different subsets of the mosquito community. Methods We compared four widely-used trapping methods for adult mosquito data collection in Kruger National Park (KNP), South Africa: Centers for Disease Control miniature light trap (CDC), Biogents Sentinel trap (BG), Biogents gravid Aedes trap (GAT) and a net trap. We quantified how trap choice and sampling effort influence inferences on the regional distribution of mosquito abundance, richness and community composition. Results The CDC and net traps together collected 96% (47% and 49% individually) of the 955 female mosquitoes sampled and 100% (85% and 78% individually) of the 40 species or species complexes identified. The CDC and net trap also identified similar regional patterns of community composition. However, inference on the regional patterns of abundance differed between these traps because mosquito abundance in the net trap was influenced by variation in weather conditions. The BG and GAT traps collected significantly fewer mosquitoes, limiting regional comparisons of abundance and community composition. Conclusions This study represents the first systematic assessment of trapping methods in natural savanna ecosystems in southern Africa. We recommend the CDC trap or the net trap for future monitoring and surveillance programs.

This will be discussed later. Two species, Mansonia uniformis and Mansonia septempunctata, which breed in association with macrophytes such as water hyacinth Eichhornia crassipes, became less common from stage 1 to 2. The saltmarsh species Aedes vigilax was also collected in reasonable numbers at all localities around the reservoir. This species is known for its wide dispersal powers and was undoubtedly blown in from the extensive intertidal wetlands on the coast. Thus on the basis of abundance, two taxa – Culex annulirostris and Anopheles annulipes s.1. – warranted further consideration. The former species is considered to be the major vector of arboviruses in Australia (Russell 1995), transmitting Ross River, Barmah Forest, Kunjin, Kokobera, Alfuy and Edge Hill viruses and Murray Valley encephalitis, as well as dog heartworm. Of these, Ross River is by far the most common arbovirus in coastal northern Queensland, with morbidity approximating 400 cases per 100,000 population. Thus from first principles, this arbovirus and perhaps Barmah Forest, about which little is known, would constitute the greatest hazard to recreational use. Although Anopheles annulipes has previously been implicated in malaria transmission at Sellheim during the Second World War, this species group has returned isolated positives of Ross River and Barmah Forest viruses and Murray Valley encephalitis from other parts of Australia. However, no transmission studies have been done on the population from the reservoir. Thus on the evidence to date, it could not be regarded as a major concern at the Ross River dam. Both Culex annulirostris and Anopheles annulipes were shown to have seasonal peaks of abundance during the late post-wet season (March to May), with populations building up with the onset of spring (September to October). Spatially, the trapping programme was designed to compare mosquito numbers on the foreshore of the stage 1 lake with two localities expected to be on the margins of the stage 2A lake, with two remote localities (and therefore theoretically unaffected by any water resource project activity) as negative controls. Mosquito numbers (i.e. for those species known to breed at the dam) decreased with distance away from the Ross River dam. Both light trapping and human bait collections carried out twice per month were reasonable indicators of broad seasonal trends in mosquito abundance. However, the statistical analysis indicated that occasionally the light traps could miss short periods of high biting activity (Jones et al. 1991). If greater resolution was required, it was recommended that light traps could be supplemented with animal baited traps, although it is probable that this could be rectified by intensifying the light trapping regimen. Cluster analyses of dam breeding species in both 1984–85 and 1991–93 indicated that light trap catches along the northern (Big Bay, Ti-Tree Bay, Round Island) and western sides (Ross River) gave similar patterns, but the profile towards the east (Antill Creek, Toonpan, Oak Valley) was somewhat different (Barker-Hudson et al. 1993; Hearnden and Kay 1995). On this basis, adult mosquito surveillance would therefore need to be based on two localities at either end of the lake.

1998 ◽  
pp. 143-143
Keyword(s):  
Light Trapping ◽  
Light Trap ◽  
Species Group ◽  
Adult Mosquito ◽  
Light Traps ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Mosquito Abundance ◽  
Culex Annulirostris ◽  
Transmission Studies ◽  
Stage 1

scholarly journals Increased mosquito abundance and species richness in Connecticut, United States 2001–2019

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tanya A. Petruff ◽  
Joseph R. McMillan ◽  
John J. Shepard ◽  
Theodore G. Andreadis ◽  
Philip M. Armstrong
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Species Richness ◽  
Community Composition ◽  
Pathogen Transmission ◽  
Public Health Importance ◽  
Data Set ◽  
Mosquito Abundance ◽  
Total Species Richness ◽  
Multiple Species ◽  
Total Species

Abstract Historical declines in multiple insect taxa have been documented across the globe in relation to landscape-level changes in land use and climate. However, declines have either not been universally observed in all regions or examined for all species. Because mosquitoes are insects of public health importance, we analyzed a longitudinal mosquito surveillance data set from Connecticut (CT), United States (U.S.) from 2001 to 2019 to identify changes in mosquito community composition over time. We first analyzed annual site-level collections and metrics of mosquito community composition with generalized linear/additive mixed effects models; we also examined annual species-level collections using the same tools. We then examined correlations between statewide collections and weather variables as well as site-level collections and land cover classifications. We found evidence that the average trap night collection of mosquitoes has increased by ~ 60% and statewide species richness has increased by ~ 10% since 2001. Total species richness was highest in the southern portion of CT, likely due to the northward range expansion of multiple species within the Aedes, Anopheles, Culex, and Psorophora genera. How the expansion of mosquito populations in the northeast U.S. will alter mosquito-borne pathogen transmission in the region will require further investigation.

scholarly journals Saturniidae and Sphingidae (Lepidoptera, Bombycoidea) assemblage in Vossoroca, Tijucas do Sul, Paraná, Brazil

2015 ◽  
Vol 87 (2) ◽  
pp. 843-860 ◽  
Author(s):  
FÁBIO L. SANTOS ◽  
MIRNA M. CASAGRANDE ◽  
OLAF H.H. MIELKE
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Light Trap ◽  
Sampling Effort ◽  
Black Light ◽  
The World ◽  
Ombrophilous Forest

The richness and abundance of the assemblage of species in a community are a way to understand the patterns of diversity found around the world. This study describes the assemblages of Saturniidae and Sphingidae in an area of Montana Mixed Ombrophilous Forest, Tijucas do Sul, Paraná, Brazil, 880m, 25º50'8.93"S, 49º 02'55.20"W. Samples were collected between November 2010 and September 2011 during two nights at the twelve new moons periods with a light trap equipped with black light lamp (ultraviolet) of 46 watts between two mercury mixed-light lamps HWL 250 watts from 6:00 p.m to 06:00 a.m. The sampling effort totaled 288 hours. This sampling effort was responsible for the capture of 1235 specimens, distributed in 124 species: 858 specimens and 86 species of Saturniidae, and 377 specimens and 38 species of Sphingidae. It is noteworthy the sampling of 10 new species: one of Automerella Michener, 1949, two of Hylesia Hübner, [1820], one of Lonomia Walker, 1855 and six of Periga Walker, 1855, that will be described.

Pits or pictures: a comparative study of camera traps and pitfall trapping to survey small mammals and reptiles

2019 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 104 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shannon J. Dundas ◽  
Katinka X. Ruthrof ◽  
Giles E. St.J. Hardy ◽  
Patricia A. Fleming
Keyword(s):  
Community Composition ◽  
Small Mammals ◽  
Survey Methods ◽  
Infrared Camera ◽  
Camera Traps ◽  
Camera Trapping ◽  
Survey Method ◽  
Pitfall Traps ◽  
Pitfall Trapping ◽  
Trapping Methods

Context Camera trapping is a widely used monitoring tool for a broad range of species across most habitat types. Camera trapping has some major advantages over other trapping methods, such as pitfall traps, because cameras can be left in the field for extended periods of time. However, there is still a need to compare traditional trapping methods with newer techniques. Aims To compare trap rates, species richness and community composition of small mammals and reptiles by using passive, unbaited camera traps and pitfall traps. Methods We directly compared pitfall trapping (20-L buried buckets) with downward-facing infrared-camera traps (Reconyx) to survey small reptiles and mammals at 16 sites within a forested habitat in south-western Australia. We compared species captured using each method, as well as the costs associated with each. Key results Overall, we recorded 228 reptiles, 16 mammals and 1 frog across 640 pitfall trap-nights (38.3 animal captures per 100 trap-nights) compared to 271 reptiles and 265 mammals (for species likely to be captured in pitfall traps) across 2572 camera trap nights (20.8 animal captures per 100 trap-nights). When trap effort is taken into account, camera trapping was only 23% as efficient as pitfall trapping for small reptiles (mostly Scincidae), but was five times more efficient for surveying small mammals (Dasyuridae). Comparing only those species that were likely to be captured in pitfall traps, 13 species were recorded by camera trapping compared with 20 species recorded from pitfall trapping; however, we found significant (P<0.001) differences in community composition between the methods. In terms of cost efficacy, camera trapping was the more expensive method for our short, 4-month survey when taking the cost of cameras into consideration. Conclusions Applicability of camera trapping is dependent on the specific aims of the intended research. Camera trapping is beneficial where community responses to ecosystem disturbance are being tested. Live capture of small reptiles via pitfall trapping allows for positive species identification, morphological assessment, and collection of reference photos to help identify species from camera photos. Implications As stand-alone techniques, both survey methods under-represent the available species present in a region. The use of more than one survey method improves the scope of fauna community assessments.

Regional patterns in moult and sexual dimorphism of adult Southern Red Bishops Euplectes orix in southern Africa

Ostrich ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 81 (2) ◽  
pp. 123-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrian JFK Craig ◽  
Bo T Bonnevie ◽  
H Dieter Oschadleus
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Dimorphism ◽  
Southern Africa ◽  
Regional Patterns

How Should Ecologists Define Sampling Effort? The Potential of Procrustes Analysis for Studying Variation in Community Composition

Biotropica ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 399-402 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victor S. Saito ◽  
Alaide A. Fonseca-Gessner ◽  
Tadeu Siqueira
Keyword(s):  
Community Composition ◽  
Procrustes Analysis ◽  
Sampling Effort

scholarly journals Hunter-gatherers in context: Mammal community composition in a northern Tanzania landscape used by Hadza foragers and Datoga pastoralists

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian Wood ◽  
Riccardo S. Millar ◽  
Nicholas Wright ◽  
Joshua Baumgartner ◽  
Hannah Holmquist ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Community Composition ◽  
Camera Traps ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Sampling Effort ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Hunter Gatherers ◽  
Wild Mammals ◽  
Northern Tanzania ◽  
Mammal Community ◽  
Species Specific

In many regions of sub Saharan Africa large mammals occur in human-dominated areas, yet their community composition and species-specific densities have rarely been described in areas occupied by traditional hunter-gatherers and pastoralists. Surveys of mammal populations in such areas provide important measures of biodiversity and provide ecological context for understanding hunting practices. Using a sampling grid centered on a Hadza hunter-gatherer camp and covering 36 km² of semi-arid savannah in northern Tanzania, we assessed mammals using camera traps (n = 19 stations) for c. 5 months (2,182 trap nights). In the study area (Tli’ika in the Hadza language), we recorded 36 wild mammal species, resembling a near complete mammal community. Rarefaction curves suggest that sampling effort was sufficient to capture mammal species richness. Species-specific densities were estimated using a random encounter model and site- and species’ body mass- specific estimates of the area sampled at each camera; confidence intervals were estimated using bootstrapping. Point estimates of densities varied by c. four orders of magnitude, from 0.003 ind./km² (African wild dog) to 27.5 ind./km² (Kirk’s dik dik). Densities of livestock (cattle, donkey, sheep and goat) were high, particularly when estimated using directly observed herd sizes. Cumulative biomass density of herbivorous livestock species exceeded that of all wild mammals by a factor of 3.3-38.7. We compare our study’s data to camera trap rates recorded in a fully protected area of northern Tanzania with similar precipitation (Lake Manyara National Park), revealing that abundance indices of most wildlife species in Tli’ika were much lower. We discuss how these data inform studies of Hadza hunting and models of hunter-gatherer foraging ecology and diet.

scholarly journals Network mediation of pathology pattern in sporadic Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease

2020 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin Freeze ◽  
Pedro Maia ◽  
Sneha Pandya ◽  
Ashish Raj
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Pattern ◽  
Regional Distribution ◽  
Structural Connectivity ◽  
Brain Regions ◽  
Diffusion Weighted Mri ◽  
Progressive Dementia ◽  
Regional Patterns ◽  
Diffusion Weighted ◽  
Jakob Disease

Abstract Sporadic Creutzfeldt–Jakob disease is a rare fatal rapidly progressive dementia caused by the accumulation and spread of pathologically misfolded prions. Evidence from animal models and in vitro experiments suggests that prion pathology propagates along neural connectivity pathways, with the transmission of misfolded prions initiating a corruptive templating process in newly encountered brain regions. Although particular regional patterns of disease have been recognized in humans, the underlying mechanistic basis of these patterns remains poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that the spatial pattern of disease derived from publicly available human diffusion-weighted MRI data demonstrates stereotypical features across patient cohorts and can be largely explained by intrinsic connectivity properties of the human structural brain network. Regional diffusion-weighted MRI signal abnormalities are predicted by graph theoretical measures of centrality, with highly affected regions such as cingulate gyrus demonstrating strong structural connectivity to other brain regions. We employ network diffusion modelling to demonstrate that the spatial pattern of disease can be predicted by a diffusion process originating from a single regional pathology seed and operating on the structural connectome. The most likely seeds correspond to the most highly affected brain regions, suggesting that pathological prions could originate in a single brain region and spread throughout the brain to produce the regional distribution of pathology observed on MRI. Further investigation of top seed regions and associated connectivity pathways may be a useful strategy for developing therapeutic approaches.

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