title: Climatic factors driving invasion of the tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus) into new areas of Trentino, northern Italy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus), vector of several emerging diseases, is expanding into more northerly latitudes as well as into higher altitudes in northern Italy. Changes in the pattern of distribution of the tiger mosquito may affect the potential spread of infectious diseases transmitted by this species in Europe. Therefore, predicting suitable areas of future establishment and spread is essential for planning early prevention and control strategies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  To identify the areas currently most suitable for the occurrence of the tiger mosquito in the Province of Trento, we combined field entomological observations with analyses of satellite temperature data (MODIS Land Surface Temperature: LST) and human population data. We determine threshold conditions for the survival of overwintering eggs and for adult survival using both January mean temperatures and annual mean temperatures. We show that the 0°C LST threshold for January mean temperatures and the 11°C threshold for annual mean temperatures provide the best predictors for identifying the areas that could potentially support populations of this mosquito. In fact, human population density and distance to human settlements appear to be less important variables affecting mosquito distribution in this area. Finally, we evaluated the future establishment and spread of this species in relation to predicted climate warming by considering the A2 scenario for 2050 statistically downscaled at regional level in which winter and annual temperatures increase by 1.5 and 1°C, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MODIS satellite LST data are useful for accurately predicting potential areas of tiger mosquito distribution and for revealing the range limits of this species in mountainous areas, predictions which could be extended to an European scale. We show that the observed trend of increasing temperatures due to climate change could facilitate further invasion of Ae. albopictus into new areas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biodiversity and Molecular Ecology, Fondazione Edmund Mach, Research and Innovation Centre, S. Michele all' Adige, Italy. davidroiz@gmail.com
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Roiz
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Neteler
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Castellani
authors.forename: Daniele
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Arnoldi
authors.forename: Annapaola
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rizzoli
mesh_terms: D000330:Aedes / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D016010:Binomial Distribution; D002980:Climate; D017753:Ecosystem; D005843:Geography; D006801:Humans; D058865:Introduced Species / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007558:Italy; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D011156:Population Density; D013696:Temperature