Cox, J, Grillet, ME, Ramos, OM, Ammador, M, et al. Habitat
segregation of dengue vectors along an urban environmental
gradient. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2007; 76:820–826.
Abstract:
Differential distributions of Aedes aegypti and Ae. mediovittatus (potential inter-epidemic dengue vector)
and other mosquitoes colonizing bamboo pots in San Juan, Puerto Rico were studied along an urban-rural gradient. City
regions (urban, suburban, and rural) and landscape elements within regions (forest [F], low-density housing [LDH], and
high-density housing [HDH]) were identified using satellite imagery. Aedes species extensively overlapped in LDH of
urban, suburban, and rural areas. Mosquito species showed their high specificity for landscape elements (96.6% correct
classification by discriminant analysis); absence of Ae. mediovittatus in HDH or absence of Ae. aegypti in forests were
the main indicator variables. The gradient was explained using a canonical correspondence analysis, which showed the
association of Ae. aegypti with HDH in urban areas, Culex quinquefasciatus with LDH in suburbs, and Ae. mediovittatus
and other native mosquitoes (Cx. antillummagnorum, Toxorhynchites portoricencis) with less disturbed habitats (forests,
LDH).