Abstract:
Mosquitoes account for significant morbidity and mortality globally, with the African
region being most affected. In many arid regions, including Botswana, mosquitoes are
increasingly becoming problematic, harbouring pathogens and parasites that cause debilitating
infectious diseases to differential host species. The risk of mosquito proliferation and burden is
accelerated when affected societies have knowledge gaps coupled with climatic mediated global
change scenarios. In Botswana mosquito research is skewed towards malaria and associated
anopheline vector species, neglecting other mosquito taxa, despite their economic significance
as disease vectors for humans, domestic animals and wildlife. The national vector control
programme in the country is mainly focused on adult mosquito species with management of
juveniles (e.g., larvae) largely disregarded. Cognisant of these shortcomings, the thesis was thus
aimed at bridging knowledge gaps in mosquito bio-ecology within the Central district, Botswana,
a largely neglected region on vector mosquito bio-ecology. Knowledge, attitude and practices of
local communities were assessed on mosquitoes across sub-districts of malaria endemic and non endemicity status, with communities largely exhibiting limited knowledge on aspects of
mosquito bio-ecology. Mosquito communities across the region were also assessed with key taxa
species of medical (Anopheles, Aedes and Culex species) and veterinary (Culiseta longiareolata)
importance identified throughout the study areas. The study also reports for the first time in the
country, a globally important and medically significant invasive vector species, Ae. aegypti from
Palapye sub-district. Using a mesocosm approach, the effects of anthropogenic activities were
tested on mosquito breeding. The degradation associated with cattle dung nutrification in aquatic
environments favoured oviposition by mosquito vector species. With the aim to assess natural
predator (Lovenula falcifera and Anisops sardea) mosquito control potential, their predation on
larvae of the abundant mosquito species (Culex pipiens) were quantified using a functional
response (FR) approach. Both predators exhibited Type II FRs and typically contributed
additively to prey risk, with synergistic impacts evident on prey of intermediate sizes. In
complementing this approach, multiple predator effects by notonectid predators, A. sardea and
Enithares chinai, were quantified across a habitat complexity gradient. Enithares chinai
exhibited significantly greater consumption rates than A. sardea, both as individuals and
conspecific pairs. Each predator type displayed Type II FRs across experimental treatments, with
synergistic multiple predator effects displayed in the absence of habitat complexity. Effects of
increasing habitat complexity modified multiple predator effects differentially between species
given behavioral differences. Whilst the ecosystem services provided by natural predators for
mosquito biological control are evident, understanding how climate change-induced
environmental perturbations may corrode these services remains largely unknown. Here, critical
thermal limits of key predator-prey participants across instar stages (as above) were explored.
All predators generally had lower activity limits and narrower thermal windows compared to
their larval mosquito prey. These results point to significant predator-prey mismatches under
environmental change, potentially adversely affecting natural mosquito biocontrol given
projected shifts in temperature fluctuations in the study region. The information gleaned from
the various chapters will be useful for practitioners dealing with the various human, biological
and ecological components of pest mosquito control and emerging threats in the region.
Mmabaledi, B (2024). The bio-ecology of key mosquito vector species in Botswana: implications for shifting environments. Afribary. Retrieved from https://track.afribary.com/works/the-bio-ecology-of-key-mosquito-vector-species-in-botswana-implications-for-shifting-environments
Mmabaledi, Buxton "The bio-ecology of key mosquito vector species in Botswana: implications for shifting environments" Afribary. Afribary, 30 Mar. 2024, https://track.afribary.com/works/the-bio-ecology-of-key-mosquito-vector-species-in-botswana-implications-for-shifting-environments. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024.
Mmabaledi, Buxton . "The bio-ecology of key mosquito vector species in Botswana: implications for shifting environments". Afribary, Afribary, 30 Mar. 2024. Web. 27 Nov. 2024. < https://track.afribary.com/works/the-bio-ecology-of-key-mosquito-vector-species-in-botswana-implications-for-shifting-environments >.
Mmabaledi, Buxton . "The bio-ecology of key mosquito vector species in Botswana: implications for shifting environments" Afribary (2024). Accessed November 27, 2024. https://track.afribary.com/works/the-bio-ecology-of-key-mosquito-vector-species-in-botswana-implications-for-shifting-environments