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Large herbivore loss has complex effects on mosquito ecology and vector‐borne disease risk
Author(s) -
Tchouassi David P.,
Torto Baldwyn,
Sang Rosemary,
Riginos Corinna,
Ezenwa Vanessa O.
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
transboundary and emerging diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.392
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1865-1682
pISSN - 1865-1674
DOI - 10.1111/tbed.13918
Subject(s) - herbivore , biology , vector (molecular biology) , abundance (ecology) , ecology , biodiversity , rift valley fever , zoology , outbreak , virology , biochemistry , gene , recombinant dna
Loss of biodiversity can affect transmission of infectious diseases in at least two ways: by altering host and vector abundance or by influencing host and vector behaviour. We used a large herbivore exclusion experiment to investigate the effects of wildlife loss on the abundance and feeding behaviour of mosquito vectors and to explore consequences for vector‐borne disease transmission. Large herbivore loss affected both mosquito abundance and blood‐feeding behaviour. For Aedes mcintoshi , the dominant mosquito species in our study and a primary vector of Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV), abundance decreased with large herbivore loss, while blood feeding on humans increased. Despite an elevated human biting rate in the absence of large herbivores, we estimated that the potential for RVFV transmission to humans doubles in the presence of large herbivores. These results demonstrate that multiple effects of biodiversity loss on vectors can lead to counterintuitive outcomes for human disease risk.