Temporal variation in abundance of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in the subtropical Brazilian Atlantic forest

Abstract

Understanding the temporal variation in abundance patterns of vector or potential vector species, as well as the abiotic factors associated with these patterns, enables the creation of strategic measures aimed at preventing diseases spread by these organisms. Here, we evaluate through circular and linear analyses the temporal variation in abundance patterns of native mosquito species and verify how abiotic factors (temperature and rainfall) have influenced these patterns. For this purpose, fortnightly collections were carried out during one year in a remnant of the Atlantic Forest in Southern Brazil. We collected 1891 specimens belonging to 24 species. From those, 10 species were abundant enough to evaluate temporal variation in abundance patterns. We found different periods of occurrence for different species of mosquitoes and the distribution of abundances also differed throughout the year. Temperature was the main abiotic factor associated with temporal variation in abundance patterns presented by mosquito species. In this way, the application of these analyses is particularly interesting for the understanding of temporal variation in abundance patterns and subsequent adoption of preventive strategies for organisms of medical importance such as mosquitoes.

Keywords

• abiotic factors
• circular analysis
• climate change