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(A) Mean containers per square kilometer; (B) Mean container size in liters; (C) Mean percent of containers positive for larvae; and (D) Mean percent of containers positive for pupae for each socioeconomic status and container type (functional, structural, or trash).
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Social, ecological, and climatic factors interact creating a heterogeneous matrix that determines the spatiotemporal distribution of mosquitoes and human risks of exposure to the diseases they transmit. We explore linkages between the social and institutional processes behind residential abandonment, urban ecology, and the interactions of socio-eco...
Contexts in source publication
Context 1
... NDVI varies across neighborhoods, it does not vary linearly with income (Supp. Fig. 2 [online only]). The relative green- ness of a neighborhood is high for both low-and high-income neigh- borhoods and lowest in medium-income ones. Because it does not vary linearly by our SES categorization as abandoned buildings do, including a vegetation measurement characterizes something other than what abandoned buildings represents. ...
Context 2
... SES Categorization), we de- cided to use more direct measurements of block cluster socio- ecological variables as described by abandonment and vegetation. The number of abandoned buildings, the quantity of garbage, and semipermanent dumping sites support our a priori designation of a socioeconomic gradient across the selected neighborhoods (Supp. Fig. 2 [online ...
Context 3
... trash container habitat was the main type of con- tainer habitat in median and low SES blocks, whereas functional and structural container habitat predominated in high SES blocks (Fig. 2, Panel A). Even within a container type category, the mean volume of containers sampled varied across the different neighbor- hoods, with smaller discarded containers and larger structural con- tainers in high SES blocks compared with those found in lower SES neighborhoods (Fig. 2, Panel B). Consistently, the percentages of positive containers ...
Context 4
... and structural container habitat predominated in high SES blocks (Fig. 2, Panel A). Even within a container type category, the mean volume of containers sampled varied across the different neighbor- hoods, with smaller discarded containers and larger structural con- tainers in high SES blocks compared with those found in lower SES neighborhoods (Fig. 2, Panel B). Consistently, the percentages of positive containers for larvae and pupae were higher in trash containers, and the highest percent of trash containers positive for Ae. albopictus was in low SES blocks (Fig. 2, Panel ...
Context 5
... discarded containers and larger structural con- tainers in high SES blocks compared with those found in lower SES neighborhoods (Fig. 2, Panel B). Consistently, the percentages of positive containers for larvae and pupae were higher in trash containers, and the highest percent of trash containers positive for Ae. albopictus was in low SES blocks (Fig. 2, Panel ...
Citations
... (Fight Blight Bmore 2023, 9) Neighborhood concern about vacant and abandoned properties impacting their community's well-being has been a persistent issue; community engagement efforts 25 years ago related to environmental issues in neighborhoods documented residents in the city listing "vacant houses and lots" as a top concern alongside "trash/litter" (Revitalizing Baltimore Technical Committee 1999). These issues have been known to co-occur when vacant properties attract illegal dumping of trash, which can result in a negative feedback loop where the presence of trash leads to more dumping (Little et al. 2017). An additional priority concern listed by residents was "public open space issues -poor maintenance and lack of" (Revitalizing Baltimore Technical Committee 1999). ...
... Vegetation that may be growing on vacant parcels and appear as a benefit in the data, but may actually be a concern, is "volunteer vegetation", or vegetation that succeeds because of active neglect (Schwarz, Berland, and Herrmann 2018). While urban green spaces can have many public health benefits, as previously stated, negative impacts have been connected to this vegetation on neglected lots; this can introduce a negative impact on well-being and reduced access to green space (Little et al. 2017). The pairing of needs and concerns related to green space connects back to the Baltimore Green Network Plan and its intent to utilize vacant properties to expand access to green spaces in Baltimore. ...
Cities promote investing in green spaces as a step toward justice in neighborhoods that have lacked places like parks, gardens, and other vegetated spaces that can be a benefit to people who live nearby. Creating more vegetated spaces in cities has also been promoted as an action to reduce the impact of climate change and extreme weather events on city residents now and into the future. However, residents may see these projects as addressing surface-level eyesores and not investments in addressing deeper challenges in their neighborhood. This is because what may appear to an outsider as an eyesore can be connected to long-term, systemic disinvestment in neighborhoods based on racist policies. In Baltimore, where many neighborhoods are identified by recent environmental justice policy to be eligible for funding from a wide variety of federal programs related to climate change issues, I investigate how these policies can be accessed by resident groups to advocate for community-led development interests alongside green space investment in their neighborhoods. This research is guided by three themes: green space, funding, and environmental justice. Methods included participant observation fieldwork and informal interviews alongside document and screening tool analysis. Research outcomes include recommendations to align investments to both increase green space while also addressing other neighborhood challenges as one way to change perceptions of urban greening initiatives from surface-level investment to environmental justice action.
... Due to long-term territorial inequalities, wealthy municipalities also have a larger and more educated/skilled staff, compared to poor ones (Viesti, 2023), which can understand the importance of mosquito control and engage into it. Finally, poor areas have more stagnating waters and vegetation due to residential abandonment, even in developed countries (e.g., North America, Little et al., 2017). Therefore, we hypothesized that municipal wealth is positively associated with the engagement of municipalities in the management of A. albopictus (Hypothesis 1 , H 1 ). ...
Invasive mosquitoes are an emerging public health issue, as many species are competent vectors for pathogens. We assessed how multiple environmental and socio-economic factors affected the engagement of municipalities in Italy ( n = 7679) in actions against Aedes albopictus , an invasive mosquito affecting human health and well-being, between 2000 and 2020. We collected information about mosquito control from official documents and municipal websites and modeled the role played by multiple environmental and socioeconomic factors characterizing each municipality through the random forest algorithm. Municipalities are more prone to manage A. albopictus if more urbanized, in lowlands and with long infestation periods. Moreover, these variables are more predictive of management in municipalities with a high median income and thus more economic resources. Only 25.5% of Italian municipalities approved regulations for managing A. albopictus , and very few of them were in Southern Italy, the most deprived area of the country. Our findings indicate that local economic conditions moderate the effect of other drivers of mosquito control and ultimately can lead to better management of A. albopictus . If the management of invasive mosquitoes, or other forms of global change, is subjected to local economic conditions, economic inequalities will jeopardize the success of large-scale policies, also raising issues of environmental and climate justice.
... There are overwhelming evidence that economic and social conditions are major risk factors for infectious diseases (Little et al., 2017). Small-scale variations in socioeconomic activities can significantly influence the geographical variation of infections compared to environmental factors (Tatem et al., 2012). ...
... Biswas et al., 2023), while ecological degradation suggests the presence of stagnant water, ideal conditions for species possibly disease carriers (e.g. Little et al., 2017;Russell et al., 2023), 11) anthropogenic impact index (a model that establishes simple cause-effect relationships between different pressure and threat factors to evaluate their impact on biodiversity with information from scientific literature. The main pressures and threat factors that the GLOBIO3 model incorporates are land use, infrastructure, fragmentation, climate change and nitrogen deposition; adapted (Alkemade et al., 2009) for Mexico). ...
Mosquitoes of vectorial importance represent a ubiquitous and constant threat of potentially devastating arbo
viral outbreaks. Our ability to predict such outcomes is still restricted. To answer this, we have used an extensive
data collection of 23 vector and 233 non-vector mosquito species distributed throughout the Mexican territory
and linked them to social and environmental factors. Our aim was to predict vector and non-vector mosquitoes’
distribution and species richness based on socioeconomic and environmental data. We found that lack of health
services, human population variation, ecological degradation, and urban-rural categorization contributed
significantly to explain the distribution of vector mosquitoes. mosquitoes. This phenomenon is probably
attributed to the degradation of natural ecosystems as it creates favorable conditions for the proliferation of
vector mosquitoes. The richness of vector mosquitoes was similarly explained by most of these variables as well
as altitude. As for non-vector mosquitoes, social marginalization, ecological degradation, anthropogenic impact,
and altitude explain species richness and distribution. These findings illustrate the complex interaction of
environmental and socioeconomic factors behind the distribution of mosquitoes, and the potential for arboviral
disease outbreaks. Areas with human populations at highest risk for mosquito-borne diseases should be primary
targets for vector control.
... According to Koehler and Castner [102] , Ae. albopictus favours shady spots on shrubs that are near the ground. Because it gives Ae. albopictus resting places and nectar supplies for feeding on sugar, vegetation is crucial [103,104] . Que et al. [105] , state that vegetation has a major impact on the existence of Ae. albopictus. ...
... However, other studies in the United States have found container-breeding mosquitoes to be more common in affluent neighbourhoods because of greater summer irrigation (Becker et al. 2014). Given the importance of container habitats for insects that are disease vectors, nuisance species or pollinators, a research priority must be to understand how such habitats change with neighbourhood socioeconomics and urban land use (see also Little et al. 2017). ...
Cities can have profound impacts on ecosystems, yet our understanding of these impacts is currently limited. First, the effects of the socioeconomic dimensions of human society are often overlooked. Second, correlative analyses are common, limiting our causal understanding of mechanisms. Third, most research has focused on terrestrial systems, ignoring aquatic systems that also provide important ecosystem services. Here we compare the effects of human population density and low‐income prevalence on the macroinvertebrate communities and ecosystem processes within water‐filled artificial tree holes. We hypothesized that these human demographic variables would affect tree holes in different ways via changes in temperature, water nutrients, and the local tree hole environment. We recruited community scientists across Greater Vancouver (Canada) to provide host trees and tend 50 tree holes over 14 weeks of colonization. We quantified tree hole ecosystems in terms of aquatic invertebrates, litter decomposition, and chlorophyll a (chl a). We compiled potential explanatory variables from field measurements, satellite images, or census databases. Using structural equation models, we showed that invertebrate abundance was affected by low‐income prevalence but not human population density. This was driven by cosmopolitan species of Ceratopogonidae (Diptera) with known associations to anthropogenic containers. Invertebrate diversity and abundance were also affected by environmental factors, such as temperature, elevation, water nutrients, litter quantity, and exposure. By contrast, invertebrate biomass, chl a, and litter decomposition were not affected by any measured variables. In summary, this study shows that some urban ecosystems can be largely unaffected by human population density. Our study also demonstrates the potential of using artificial tree holes as a standardized, replicated habitat for studying urbanization. Finally, by combining community science and urban ecology, we were able to involve our local community in this pandemic research pivot.
... Previous research has shown that the landscape heterogeneity in urban environments may cause mosquitoes to be unevenly distributed. For instance, mosquito hotspots can emerge in neighborhoods with abundant breeding habitats via plastic containers, high densities of human hosts, and low mosquito-mitigation efforts (Faraji et al., 2014;LaDeau et al., 2013); such conditions are often associated with low-income neighborhoods (Little et al., 2017). ...
... However, the studies that investigated whether mosquitoes are simultaneously affected by ecological attributes and socioeconomic status (SES) have mixed results (Sallam et al., 2017;Whiteman et al., 2020). For example, several studies have reported higher mosquito densities in low SES neighborhoods in cities LaDeau et al., 2013;Little et al., 2017;Lockaby et al., 2016), whereas other studies showed weak or no relationship between mosquito abundance and SES (Ferreira et al., 2007;Holeva-Eklund et al., 2021;Rochlin et al., 2011;Whiteman et al., 2020). Such inconclusive findings make it difficult to generalize mosquito burden across urban environments, limiting our ability to predict their impacts as urban expansion advances. ...
... To provide a more synthetic understanding of the socioecological factors that relate to mosquito distributions in cities, we also conducted a meta-analysis on the social and environmental traits that might influence mosquito distributions in urban landscapes. Several studies have reported that low SES neighborhoods have high rates of mosquito-breeding habitats Little et al., 2017), such as trash, garbage containers, and abandoned buildings, potentially causing a proliferation of mosquito populations. By contrast, high SES neighborhoods generally have higher access to green spaces, mosquito-mitigation efforts, education, and less garbage and abandoned buildings Ferreira et al., 2007;Little et al., 2021), thereby limiting mosquito habitat. ...
The distribution of mosquitoes and associated vector diseases (e.g., West Nile, dengue, and Zika viruses) is likely to be a function of environmental conditions in the landscape. Urban environments are highly heterogeneous in the amount of vegetation, standing water, and concrete structures covering the land at a given time, each having the capacity to influence mosquito abundance and disease transmission. Previous research suggests that socioeconomic status is correlated with the ecology of the landscape, with lower‐income neighborhoods generally having more concrete structures and standing water via residential abandonment, garbage dumps, and inadequate sewage. Whether these socioecological factors affect mosquito distributions across urban environments in the USA remains unclear. Here, we present a meta‐analysis of 42 paired observations from 18 articles testing how socioeconomic status relates to the overall mosquito burden in urban landscapes in the USA. We also analyzed how socioecological covariates (e.g., abandoned buildings, vegetation, education, and garbage containers) varied across socioeconomic status in the same mosquito studies. The meta‐analysis revealed that lower‐income neighborhoods (regions with median household incomes <US$50,000 per household per year) are exposed to 63% greater mosquito densities and mosquito‐borne illnesses compared with higher‐income neighborhoods (≥US$50,000 per household per year). One common species of urban mosquito (Aedes aegypti) showed the strongest relationship with socioeconomic status, with Ae. aegypti being 126% higher in low‐income than high‐income neighborhoods. We also found that certain socioecological covariates correlated with median household income. Garbage, trash, and plastic containers were found to be 67% higher in low‐income neighborhoods, whereas high‐income neighborhoods tended to have higher levels of education. Together, these results indicate that socioecological factors can lead to disproportionate impacts of mosquitoes on humans in urban landscapes. Thus, concerted efforts to manage mosquito populations in low‐income urban neighborhoods are required to reduce mosquito burden for the communities most vulnerable to human disease.
... aegypti abundance. Infrastructural degradation through cracks in concrete and accumulation of more yard debris, such as in ledges, in older public apartment blocks provide opportunities for mosquito breeding [34] and are largely inevitable, therefore current younger public apartment blocks are likely to be at high risk for mosquito breeding in the future. However, building age could also be associated with other aspects of the built environment since younger buildings are commonly situated within modern built environments, and we hypothesise that such newer built environments are engineered to hold less stagnant water on the ground. ...
Aedes aegypti abundance in residential estates is hypothesized to contribute to localised outbreaks of dengue in Singapore. Knowing the factors in the urban environment underlying high Ae. aegypti abundance could guide intervention efforts to reduce Ae. aegypti breeding and the incidence of dengue. In this study, objective data on Ae. aegypti abundance in public apartment blocks estimated by Singapore's nationally representative Gravitrap surveillance system was obtained from the National Environmental Agency. Low and high abundance status public apartment blocks were classified based on the Gravitrap Aegypti Index, corresponding to the lowest and highest quartiles respectively. An environmental case-control study was conducted, wherein a blinded assessment of urban features hypothesised to form breeding habitats was conducted in 50 randomly sampled public apartment blocks with low and high abundance statuses each. Logistic regression was performed to identify features that correlated with abundance status. A multivariable logistic model was created to determine key urban features found in corridors and void decks which were predictive of the Ae. aegypti abundance status of the public apartment block. At a statistical level of significance of 0.20, the presence of gully traps [Odds Ratio (OR): 1.34, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.10, 1.66], age of the public apartment block [OR: 2.23, 95% CI: 1.48, 3.60], housing price [OR: 0.33, 95% CI: 0.16, 0.61] and corridor cleanliness [OR: 0.67, 95% CI: 0.40, 1.07] were identified as important predictors of abundance status. To reduce Ae. aegypti abundance around public apartment blocks and potential onward dengue transmission, gully traps could be remodelled or replaced by other drainage types. Routine inspections of Ae. aegypti breeding should be targeted at older and low-income neighbourhoods. Campaigns for cleaner corridors should be promoted.
... Vegetation and housing age have also been found to be correlated with Ae. aegypti egg counts (Hayden et al. 2010, Walker et al. 2011, Benitez et al. 2021. Even though Ae. albopictus can become established in urbanized environments (Ayllón et al. 2018), it is traditionally considered to be associated with vegetation (Bonizzoni et al. 2013, Little et al. 2017, Heinisch et al. 2019, Soares et al. 2020). Additionally, this species has been found to be associated with poverty levels and abandoned homes (Barrera et al. 2011, Unlu et al. 2011, LaDeau et al. 2013. ...
... albopictus oviposition intensity because poverty has been shown to be associated with mosquito abundance or presence. (Carbajo et al. 2006, Unlu et al. 2011, Walker et al. 2011, Costa et al. 2015, Little et al. 2017, Ayllón et al. 2018, Sánchez-Díaz et al. 2022, Soares et al. 2020 and housing unit density and with median household income. As such, high oviposition intensity of this mosquito species was associated with a low density of housing units and low median household income. ...
... We did not find significant associations between oviposition intensity of Ae. aegypti and the median household income. Other studies have found associations between Ae. albopictus production and neighborhoods with lower socioeconomic levels or abandoned homes (Barrera et al. 2011, LaDeau et al. 2013, Little et al. 2017. ...
The transmission of Aedes-borne viruses is on the rise globally. Their mosquito vectors, Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus, Diptera: Culicidae) and Ae. albopictus (Skuse, Diptera: Culicidae), are focally abundant in the Southern United States. Mosquito surveillance is an important component of a mosquito control program. However, there is a lack of long-term surveillance data and an incomplete understanding of the factors influencing vector populations in the Southern United States. Our surveillance program monitored Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus oviposition intensity in the New Orleans area using ovicups in a total of 75 sites from 2009 to 2016. We found both Aedes spp. throughout the study period and sites. The average number of Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus hatched from collected eggs per site per week was 34.1 (SD = 57.7) and 29.0 (SD = 46.5), respectively. Based on current literature, we formed multiple hypotheses on how environmental variables influence Aedes oviposition intensity, and constructed Generalized Linear Mixed Effect models with a negative binomial distribution and an autocorrelation structure to test these hypotheses. We found significant associations between housing unit density and Ae. aegypti and Ae. albopictus oviposition intensity, and between median household income and Ae. albopictus oviposition intensity. Temperature, relative humidity, and accumulated rainfall had either a lagged or an immediate significant association with oviposition. This study provides the first long-term record of Aedes spp. distribution in the New Orleans area, and sheds light on factors associated with their oviposition activity. This information is vital for the control of potential Aedes-borne virus transmission in this area.
... This study examined measurements of the physical environment that influenced habitat suitability for mosquitoes. In addition, it is known that socioeconomic factors such as the age of a neighborhood (Spence Beaulieu et al. 2019), household income and education level (Little et al. 2017, Whiteman et al. 2019, as well as ownership and use status (Lambin et al. 2010) can influence persistence and quality of larval habitats and mosquito species distributions within heterogeneous urban areas. For example, the abundance of uncovered trash containers (e.g., plastic cups, Styrofoam bowls, plastic bags, cans) and old car tires is higher in low-income areas, whereas containers for recreational use (e.g., small children's pools, sandboxes, sporting equipment and toys) are the main breeding sites in high income areas (LaDeau et al. 2013). ...
Exposure to mosquito-borne diseases is influenced by landscape patterns and microclimates associated with land cover. These influences can be particularly strong in heterogeneous urban landscapes where human populations are concentrated. We investigated how land cover and climate influenced abundances of Ae. albopictus (Skuse) (Diptera: Culicidae) and Cx. quinquefasciatus (Say) (Diptera: Culicidae) in Norman, Oklahoma (United States). From June–October 2019 and May–October 2020 we sampled mosquitoes along an urban-rural gradient using CO2 baited BG Sentinel traps. Microclimate sensors at these sites measured temperature and humidity. We mapped environmental variables using satellite images from Landsat, Sentinel-2, and VIIRS, and the CHIRPS rainfall dataset. We also obtained meteorological data from the closest weather station. We compared statistical models of mosquito abundance based on microclimate, satellite, weather station, and land cover data. Mosquitoes were more abundant on trap days with higher temperature and relative humidity. Rainfall 2 wk prior to the trap day negatively affected mosquito abundances. Impervious surface cover was positively associated with Cx. quinquefasciatus and tree cover was negatively associated with Ae. albopictus. Among the data sources, models based on satellite variables and land cover data had the best fits for Ae. albopictus (R2 = 0.7) and Cx. quinquefasciatus (R2 = 0.51). Models based on weather station or microclimate data had weaker fits (R2 between 0.09 and 0.17) but were improved by adding land cover variables (R2 between 0.44 and 0.61). These results demonstrate the potential for using satellite remote sensing for mosquito habitat analyses in urban areas.
... In Baltimore and Washington DC, pupae (which serve as an indication of productive mosquito habitat) of both Culex pipiens and Aedes albopictus were more likely to be found in containers in low-income areas (LaDeau et al. 2013). Little et al. (2017) subsequently showed that mosquito abundance at the block level is affected by a combination of abandonment (the prevalence of abandoned buildings in an area) and urban decay, vegetation, and precipitation. Specifically, Ae. albopictus occurs at higher densities in lower income areas, and while overall vegetation had a negative impact on mosquito abundance, this was not the case in areas with a high proportion of abandoned buildings, highlighting how behavioral, socioeconomic, biotic, and abiotic factors jointly affect mosquito abundance. ...
We are facing interwoven global threats to public health and ecosystem function that reveal the intrinsic connections between human and wildlife health. These challenges are especially pressing in cities, where social-ecological interactions are pronounced. The One Health concept provides an organizing framework that promotes the health and well-being of urban communities and ecosystems. However, for One Health to be successful, it must incorporate societal inequities in environmental disamenities, exposures, and policy. Such inequities affect all One Health interfaces, including the distribution of ecosystem services and disservices, the nature and frequency of human–wildlife interactions, and legacies of land use. Here, we review the current literature on One Health perspectives, pinpoint areas in which to incorporate an environmental justice lens, and close with recommendations for future work. Intensifying social, political, and environmental unrest underscore a dire need for One Health solutions informed by environmental justice principles to help build healthier, more resilient cities.
Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Ecology, Evolution, and Systematics, Volume 53 is November 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
