Dissertation
Interplay of landscape and climate on Culex pipiens mosquitoes in the Netherlands
The Netherlands has a long history of mosquito-borne diseases, particularly malaria, until 1970 when it was declared malaria-free.
- Author
- L. Krol
- Date
- 31 March 2026
- Links
- Thesis in Leiden Repository
However, the recent occurrences of the Usutu virus (USUV) and the West Nile virus (WNV) in 2016, 2019 and 2020 have shown that the Netherlands remains vulnerable to mosquito-borne disease outbreaks.
The occurrence of mosquito-borne diseases varies across different spatial scales. Understanding this pattern requires a comprehensive One Health approach, considering the interconnections between human, animal, and environmental health, in order to develop surveillance and intervention strategies. To this end, the One Health Predicting Arboviruses Climate Tipping Points (OH-PACT) project was established in 2020. Within OH-PACT, I focused on the ecology of Culex pipiens, the primary vector of USUV and WNV in the Netherlands. More specifically, I examined how Cx. pipiens populations and metapopulations interact with their environment at three spatial scales (regional, landscape and habitat) to inform possible approaches to managing their abundance and associated risk of mosquito-borne diseases. At each of these scales other ecological processes are at play, potentially impacting disease dynamics.
At the regional scale, I demonstrated that variations in soil properties, land cover and land use modify the effect of climate on Cx. pipiens abundance. One scale level lower, at the landscape scale, I have shown that human-modified landscapes, such as pastures and urban areas, create suitable and unsuitable habitats for adult mosquitoes. At the habitat scale, the spatial distribution of Cx. pipiens is shaped primarily by differences in habitat requirements and preferences between its immature and adult life stages, together with the availability and suitability of microhabitats.
Overall, this thesis has explored the complex interplay between spatial scale and mosquito-borne disease dynamics, revealing critical insights into the ecology of Cx. pipiens which could inform management practices aimed at reducing their abundance, nuisance and associated health risks across different scales.