Journal of Mosquito Research 2024, Vol.14, No.2, 100-110 http://emtoscipublisher.com/index.php/jmr 107 6 Future Directions and Research Needs 6.1 Emerging agricultural practices and their potential impacts Emerging agricultural practices such as the expansion of irrigated agriculture have significant implications for mosquito habitats. Studies have shown that irrigation development can increase the diversity and abundance of mosquito breeding sites thereby elevating the risk of malaria transmission. For instance research conducted at the Arjo-Dedessa irrigation development site in Southwest Ethiopia revealed that irrigated areas had a higher diversity and abundance of anopheline mosquito larvae compared to non-irrigated areas indicating that irrigation contributes to the proliferation of mosquito breeding habitats (Hawaria et al., 2020), Additionally the use of agricultural pesticides has been linked to the selection of insecticide resistance in mosquito populations which complicates vector control efforts. Evidence from studies in Côte d'Ivoire and Burkina Faso demonstrates that agricultural pesticide use can lead to resistance in malaria vectors such as Anopheles coluzzii and Anopheles gambiae respectively (Hien et al., 2017; Mouhamadou et al., 2019), Future research should focus on understanding the long-term impacts of these practices and developing strategies to mitigate their negative effects on mosquito populations and disease transmission. 6.2 Technological Advancements in Mosquito Habitat Management Technological advancements offer promising avenues for improving mosquito habitat management. The integration of drone surveys and entomological sampling has been shown to effectively characterize mosquito breeding sites in agricultural landscapes. A study in Côte d'Ivoire developed a technical workflow that combined drone mapping with mosquito larval sampling to identify breeding habitats of Anopheles funestus providing valuable data for targeted vector control efforts (Byrne et al., 2021). Additionally the use of participatory Bayesian modeling has been explored to study habitat management for biological pest control. This approach involves local stakeholders in the modeling process allowing for the incorporation of local knowledge and perspectives which can enhance the effectiveness of habitat management strategies (Salliou et al., 2019), Future research should continue to explore and refine these technological tools as well as investigate their applicability in different ecological contexts and agricultural settings. 6.3 Interdisciplinary Research Approaches Interdisciplinary research approaches are crucial for addressing the complex interactions between agricultural practices and mosquito habitats. The connection between aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems for example highlights the need for integrated studies that consider the transfer of ecological subsidies and their implications for both ecosystems. Research has shown that winged stream insects can provide important ecosystem services to agriculture such as pollination and soil fertilization while also influencing mosquito populations (Raitif et al., 2019), Additionally studies have demonstrated the importance of maintaining natural enemies in agricultural landscapes to control mosquito populations. In Northern Tanzania native predators in temporary ponds were found to maintain low mosquito densities suggesting that conservation of these predators can be an effective strategy for mosquito control (Mataba et al., 2021), Future research should prioritize interdisciplinary collaborations that bring together ecologists entomologists agronomists and public health experts to develop holistic and sustainable solutions for managing mosquito habitats in agricultural landscapes. 7 Concluding Remarks The literature review indicates that agricultural practices have a significant impact on mosquito habitats and subsequently affect public health. Research shows that irrigated agriculture such as the study conducted in Southwest Ethiopia increases the diversity and abundance of Anopheles mosquito breeding habitats thereby elevating the risk of malaria transmission. Similarly in arid regions cattle-induced eutrophication enhances the abundance of mosquito larvae especially disease-vector species due to nutrient enrichment from cattle dung. The use of agricultural pesticides has been shown to select for insecticide resistance in mosquito populations with studies in Burkina Faso and Côte d'Ivoire providing direct evidence of this phenomenon. Additionally urbanization and land-use changes contribute to the proliferation of mosquito habitats particularly in tropical urban landscapes where human activities create artificial breeding sites for vector species like Aedes albopictus.
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