Abstract
We quantified the effects of deforestation, and subsequent cultivation and forest regeneration, on the abundance and composition of mosquito larval habitats, specifically phytotelmata (plant-held waters), in the western Amazon basin. Recently deforested sites were characterized by increased phytotelm density (1.6 phytotelmata/m2) and greater relative abundance of fallen-plant-part phytotelmata (76%) compared to intact forests (0.9 phytotelmata/m2 and 25% fallen plant parts). As a result, the total volume of colonizable phytotelm water was significantly larger in new clearings. Subsequent cultivation of cleared land with mixed crops including pineapple and plantain had similar consequences: phytotelm density (2.2 units/m2) was significantly larger in plantations than in forests due to greater relative abundance of water-filled plant axils (71% vs. 39% in forest). Such axils are the preferred larval habitats for Wyeomyia spp. mosquitoes, which showed a similarly significant increase in production in plantations (0.25 larvae/m 2) vs. forests (0.04 larvae/m2). Likewise, Limatus spp. mosquitoes were an order of magnitude more abundant in altered landscapes (especially in recently deforested and cultivated areas) than in mature forest, due to increased abundance of fallen-plant-part phytotelmata, in which they are typically the most common colonists. Because they are potential vectors of pathogens in a region of high endemic and emergent virus activity, increases in local abundance of Limatus spp. and Wyeomyia spp. due to large-scale deforestation and agriculture may influence rates of disease transmission.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1854-1864 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Ecological Applications |
| Volume | 16 |
| Issue number | 5 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Oct 2006 |
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Keywords
- Amazon
- Arthropods
- Deforestation
- Disease vector
- Diversity
- Larval mosquito habitat
- Limatus spp.
- Mosquitoes
- Peru
- Phytotelm
- Tropical forest
- Wyeomyia spp.
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Ecology
Cite this
Deforestation alters phytotelm habitat availability and mosquito production in the Peruvian Amazon. / Yanoviak, Stephen P.; Ramírez Paredes, J. E.; Lounibos, L. Philip; Weaver, Scott.
In: Ecological Applications, Vol. 16, No. 5, 10.2006, p. 1854-1864.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Deforestation alters phytotelm habitat availability and mosquito production in the Peruvian Amazon
AU - Yanoviak, Stephen P.
AU - Ramírez Paredes, J. E.
AU - Lounibos, L. Philip
AU - Weaver, Scott
PY - 2006/10
Y1 - 2006/10
N2 - We quantified the effects of deforestation, and subsequent cultivation and forest regeneration, on the abundance and composition of mosquito larval habitats, specifically phytotelmata (plant-held waters), in the western Amazon basin. Recently deforested sites were characterized by increased phytotelm density (1.6 phytotelmata/m2) and greater relative abundance of fallen-plant-part phytotelmata (76%) compared to intact forests (0.9 phytotelmata/m2 and 25% fallen plant parts). As a result, the total volume of colonizable phytotelm water was significantly larger in new clearings. Subsequent cultivation of cleared land with mixed crops including pineapple and plantain had similar consequences: phytotelm density (2.2 units/m2) was significantly larger in plantations than in forests due to greater relative abundance of water-filled plant axils (71% vs. 39% in forest). Such axils are the preferred larval habitats for Wyeomyia spp. mosquitoes, which showed a similarly significant increase in production in plantations (0.25 larvae/m 2) vs. forests (0.04 larvae/m2). Likewise, Limatus spp. mosquitoes were an order of magnitude more abundant in altered landscapes (especially in recently deforested and cultivated areas) than in mature forest, due to increased abundance of fallen-plant-part phytotelmata, in which they are typically the most common colonists. Because they are potential vectors of pathogens in a region of high endemic and emergent virus activity, increases in local abundance of Limatus spp. and Wyeomyia spp. due to large-scale deforestation and agriculture may influence rates of disease transmission.
AB - We quantified the effects of deforestation, and subsequent cultivation and forest regeneration, on the abundance and composition of mosquito larval habitats, specifically phytotelmata (plant-held waters), in the western Amazon basin. Recently deforested sites were characterized by increased phytotelm density (1.6 phytotelmata/m2) and greater relative abundance of fallen-plant-part phytotelmata (76%) compared to intact forests (0.9 phytotelmata/m2 and 25% fallen plant parts). As a result, the total volume of colonizable phytotelm water was significantly larger in new clearings. Subsequent cultivation of cleared land with mixed crops including pineapple and plantain had similar consequences: phytotelm density (2.2 units/m2) was significantly larger in plantations than in forests due to greater relative abundance of water-filled plant axils (71% vs. 39% in forest). Such axils are the preferred larval habitats for Wyeomyia spp. mosquitoes, which showed a similarly significant increase in production in plantations (0.25 larvae/m 2) vs. forests (0.04 larvae/m2). Likewise, Limatus spp. mosquitoes were an order of magnitude more abundant in altered landscapes (especially in recently deforested and cultivated areas) than in mature forest, due to increased abundance of fallen-plant-part phytotelmata, in which they are typically the most common colonists. Because they are potential vectors of pathogens in a region of high endemic and emergent virus activity, increases in local abundance of Limatus spp. and Wyeomyia spp. due to large-scale deforestation and agriculture may influence rates of disease transmission.
KW - Amazon
KW - Arthropods
KW - Deforestation
KW - Disease vector
KW - Diversity
KW - Larval mosquito habitat
KW - Limatus spp.
KW - Mosquitoes
KW - Peru
KW - Phytotelm
KW - Tropical forest
KW - Wyeomyia spp.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33749572899&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=33749572899&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1890/1051-0761(2006)016[1854:DAPHAA]2.0.CO;2
DO - 10.1890/1051-0761(2006)016[1854:DAPHAA]2.0.CO;2
M3 - Article
VL - 16
SP - 1854
EP - 1864
JO - Ecological Appplications
JF - Ecological Appplications
SN - 1051-0761
IS - 5
ER -