Ecology

Data on Urban Ecosystems Discussed by Researchers at Ohio State University

  2012 JUN 22 (VerticalNews) -- By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Ecology, Environment & Conservation -- Investigators publish new report on Urban Ecosystems. According to news reporting from Wooster, Ohio, by VerticalNews journalists, researchers stated "Constructed, created and restored wetlands are gaining popularity in urban areas due to many ecosystem services they provide. However, there is a concern over mosquito breeding in such wetlands."

  The news correspondents obtained a quote from the research by the authors from Ohio State University, "We studied factors affecting mosquito populations in two experimental flow-through created wetlands, a stormwater wetland, a pond and 40 mono-specific and mixed plant mesocosms (1 m(2)) at the Olentangy River Wetland Research Park (ORWRP) in Columbus, Ohio. The flow-through created wetlands had less mosquito larval density (2 to 4/dip) compared to the pond (36.2 +/- 8.4/dip) (p < 0.00001) and stormwater wetland (24.9 +/- 10.2/dip) (p = 0.002). Sites with higher larval density in the flow-through wetlands were outflow regions (p = 0.009) and emergent vegetation sites (p = 0.023). Mixed vegetation communities consisting of Sparganium eurycarpum, Juncus effusus, and Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani rather than mono specific Typha communities provided most conducive environment for mosquito breeding (p < 0.0001). Mesocosm plots with steady inflow (10 cm depth) and deep water (20 cm) in summer and shallow water (5 cm) in spring had higher mosquito densities than mesocosm plots with other hydrological conditions. Among water quality parameters, conductivity (p = 0.004) positively and dissolved oxygen (p = 0.052) negatively correlated with mosquito larval density. Six mosquito species identified in all water bodies were Culex pipiens, Culex salinarius, Culex restuans, Uranotaenia sapphirina, Anopheles quadrimaculatus, and Anopheles punctipennis some of which may transmit deadly human pathogens."

  According to the news reporters, the researchers concluded: "This information will be useful for targeting mosquito populations in specific sections of urban created wetlands and to develop improved designs for urban wetlands."

  For more information on this research see: Factors affecting mosquito populations in created wetlands in urban landscapes. Urban Ecosystems, 2012;15(2):499-511. Urban Ecosystems can be contacted at: Springer, Van Godewijckstraat 30, 3311 Gz Dordrecht, Netherlands. (Springer - www.springer.com; Urban Ecosystems - www.springerlink.com/content/1083-8155/)

  Our news journalists report that additional information may be obtained by contacting P. Yadav, Ohio State University, Dept. of Entomol, OARDC, 1680 Madison Ave, Wooster, OH 44691, United States.

  Keywords for this news article include: Ohio, Wooster, United States, Urban Ecosystems, North and Central America

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