title: Ecological aspects of mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in an Atlantic forest area on the north coast of Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil.
abstract: Mosquito diversity was determined in an area located on the southern limit of the Atlantic Forest on the north coast of Rio Grande of Sul State. Our major objective was to verify the composition, diversity, and temporal distribution of the mosquito fauna, and the influence of temperature and rainfall. Samplings were performed monthly between December, 2006 and December, 2008, in three biotopes: forest, urban area, and transition area, using CDC light traps and a Nasci vacuum. A total of 2,376 specimens was collected, from which 1,766 (74.32%) were identified as 55 different species belonging to ten genera. Culex lygrus, Aedes serratus, and Aedes nubilus were dominant (eudominant) and constant throughout samplings. The forest environment presented the highest species dominance (D(S) =0.20), while the transition area showed the highest values of diversity (H'=2.55) and evenness (J'=0.85). These two environments were the most similar, according to the Morisita-Horn Index (I(M-H) =0.35). Bootstrap estimates showed that 87.3% of the species occurring in the region were detected. The seasonal pattern showed a greater abundance of mosquitoes between May and October, indicating the period to intensify entomological surveillance in that area.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Epidemiologia, Faculdade de Saúde Pública, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Dr. Arnaldo 715, 01246-904 São Paulo-SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jáder da C
authors.initials: Jda C
authors.lastname: Cardoso
authors.forename: Marcia Bicudo
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: de Paula
authors.forename: Aristides
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fernandes
authors.forename: Edmilson
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: dos Santos
authors.forename: Marco Antônio Barreto
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: de Almeida
authors.forename: Daltro Fernandes
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: da Fonseca
authors.forename: Maria Anice Mureb
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Sallum
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D009033:Culicidae / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development*; D004463:Ecology; D014197:Trees