The distribution of mosquitoes across an altitudinal gradient in the Galapagos Islands

Mosquito populations in the Galápagos Islands decline significantly with elevation, challenging the existence of stable highland refuges for disease vectors. Research sampling three mosquito species—Aedes taeniorhynchus, Culex quinquefasciatus, and Aedes aegypti—across altitudinal gradients on Isabela and Santa Cruz islands from 2012 to 2014 found that while the first two species were widespread, their abundances varied by island and year. Ae. aegypti was rare and confined to human-inhabited areas. Statistical models confirmed altitude, year, trap type, and human inhabitation as key factors influencing mosquito distributions. These findings suggest that even high-altitude regions may not serve as consistent refuges for disease vectors like avian malaria, necessitating further research on vector potential and disease dynamics in the Galápagos.

Asigau, S., Hartman, D. A., Higashiguchi, J. M., & Parker, P. G. (2017). The distribution of mosquitoes across an altitudinal gradient in the Galapagos Islands. Journal of Vector Ecology, 42(2), 243–253. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvec.12264