title: New classification of natural breeding habitats for Neotropical anophelines in the Yanomami Indian Reserve, Amazon Region, Brazil and a new larval sampling methodology.
abstract: Here we present the first in a series of articles about the ecology of immature stages of anophelines in the Brazilian Yanomami area. We propose a new larval habitat classification and a new larval sampling methodology. We also report some preliminary results illustrating the applicability of the methodology based on data collected in the Brazilian Amazon rainforest in a longitudinal study of two remote Yanomami communities, Parafuri and Toototobi. In these areas, we mapped and classified 112 natural breeding habitats located in low-order river systems based on their association with river flood pulses, seasonality and exposure to sun. Our classification rendered seven types of larval habitats: lakes associated with the river, which are subdivided into oxbow lakes and nonoxbow lakes, flooded areas associated with the river, flooded areas not associated with the river, rainfall pools, small forest streams, medium forest streams and rivers. The methodology for larval sampling was based on the accurate quantification of the effective breeding area, taking into account the area of the perimeter and subtypes of microenvironments present per larval habitat type using a laser range finder and a small portable inflatable boat. The new classification and new sampling methodology proposed herein may be useful in vector control programs.
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: Jordi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Ribas
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Imunoparasitologia, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: Joseli
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oliveira-Ferreira
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Mosquitos Transmissores de Hematozoários, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: Maria Goreti
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Rosa-Freitas
authors.affiliation: Institut de Recerca en Energia de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Lluís
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Trilla
authors.affiliation: Laboratório de Mosquitos Transmissores de Hematozoários, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fundação Oswaldo Cruz, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
authors.forename: Teresa Fernandes
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Silva-do-Nascimento
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles / Q000502:physiology*; D001938:Brazil; D004199:Disease Vectors; D017753:Ecosystem; D004772:Entomology / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007199:Indians, South American; D060106:Lakes; D007814:Larva; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D009032:Mosquito Control / Q000639:trends*; D065947:Rainforest; D012098:Reproduction; D045483:Rivers; D012621:Seasons; D013472:Sunlight