City-invading mosquitoes of medical importance: habitat preferences and molecular detection in Vienna

Projektleitung an der Vetmeduni

Führer, Hans-Peter

Geldgeber

Wiener Wissenschafts-, Forschungs- und Technologiefonds (WWTF)

Laufzeit

01.06.2025 - 28.02.2028

Abstract

The objectives of this project are threefold: Improve knowledge on habitat preferences, distribution and habitat use of urban mosquitoes.Justification: Habitat preferences, distribution and habitat use of non-native mosquitoes poorly known (); role of artificial habitats for urban mosquitoes not sufficiently known (); potential competition among native and non-native mosquitoes not known (); role of accompanying fauna for mosquito larvae presence/abundance not known (). Provide a means to rapid molecular identification of mosquito species of particular interest.Justification: Standard identification of mosquitoes is based on morphology (); some species or subspecies-level taxa are difficult if not impossible to identify based on morphology (Zittra et al. 2017); DNA-based identification allows differentiation of certain species or subspecies-level taxa (Zittra et al. 2016) but is tedious and time-consuming; digital-droplet PCR (ddPCR) is a versatile tool, also for quantification and detection of different taxa including mosquitoes (); no standardisable approaches to identify mosquito species of particular interest (i.e., competent vectors of XXYXXYXY) based on ddPCR are available. Establish baseline methodology for environmental DNA-based detection of mosquito species of particular interest.Justification: environmental DNA-based detection of benthic invertebrate fauna is an important tool for ecology and monitoring (); environmental DNA-based detection of mosquito species has been demonstrated in Africa and the Caribbean () but so far has not been used in Europe (); detection of mosquito species of particular interest is highly relevant () for improved monitoring and management.