Effects of ecological contexts and savannah management on mosquitoes

Mosquitoes are part of a multitrophic ecosystem that includes hosts that provide their blood-meal, plants that provide sugar sources, and parasites. In their role as vectors, parasites can be transmitted from one host to another through blood meals. The number of bites on a host and host-choice are key determinants of disease risk [Smith et al., 2020].

The importance of mosquito feeding behaviour is exemplified by outdoor-feeding malaria vectors. Their preference for biting outdoor animals limits the effect of indoor mosquito-control and influences residual malaria transmission across Africa [Sherrad-Smith et al., 2019]. In addition to its importance for human disease, mosquito blood-feeding patterns also influence disease in wildlife populations.

Given the importance of wildlife infections in disease emergence and increasing pressures on conservation areas, understanding mosquito feeding patterns across a diversity of ecological contexts remains a priority [Lyimo & Ferguson, 2009; Takken & Verhulst, 2013].

This project will investigate the ecological drivers of mosquito feeding patterns at an iconic biodiversity hot-spot and epidemiologically relevant wildlife-livestock interface around Kruger National Park, South Africa. Vector sampling will dovetail with ongoing sampling efforts conducted by the Organisation for Tropical Studies (OTS). OTS is a world-leading institution in tropical biology that manages long-term research and education projects in the park. This ensures a level of covid resilience and integration with the park's long-term studies.