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The bio-ecology of key mosquito vector species in Botswana: implications for shifting environments

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dc.contributor.supervisor Wasserman, Ryan John
dc.contributor.supervisor Nyamukondiwa, Casper
dc.contributor.author Buxton, Mmabaledi
dc.date.accessioned 2022-06-29T12:00:53Z
dc.date.available 2022-06-29T12:00:53Z
dc.date.issued 2021-03
dc.identifier.citation Buxton, M. (2021) The bio-ecology of key mosquito vector species in Botswana: Implications for shifting environments, Masters Thesis, Botswana International University of Science and Technology: Palapye. en_US
dc.identifier.uri http://repository.biust.ac.bw/handle/123456789/469
dc.description Thesis (PhD- Biological Sciences and Biotechnology)---Botswana International University of Science and Technology, 2021 en_US
dc.description.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. en_US
dc.description.sponsorship Botswana International University of Science and Technology en_US
dc.language.iso en en_US
dc.publisher Botswana International University of Science and Technology (BIUST) en_US
dc.subject Anopheles en_US
dc.subject Biological control en_US
dc.subject Emerging re-emerging infections en_US
dc.subject Functional responses en_US
dc.subject Invertebrate vectors en_US
dc.subject Malaria en_US
dc.subject Mosquitos en_US
dc.subject Predator-prey interactions en_US
dc.title The bio-ecology of key mosquito vector species in Botswana: implications for shifting environments en_US
dc.description.level phd en_US
dc.description.accessibility unrestricted en_US
dc.description.department bsb en_US


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