Long‐term shifts in the seasonal abundance of adult Culicoides biting midges and their impact on potential arbovirus outbreaks

1. Surveillance of adult Culicoides biting midge flight activity is used as an applied ecological method to guide the management of arbovirus incursions on livestock production in Europe and Australia. 2. To date the impact of changes in the phenology of adult vector activity on arbovirus transmission has not been defined. We investigated this at two sites in the UK, identifying 150,000 Culicoides biting midges taken from 2867 collections over a nearly 40 year timescale. 3. Whilst we recorded no change in seasonal activity at one site, shifts in first adult appearance and last adult appearance increased the seasonal activity period of Culicoides species at the other site by 40 days over the time period. 4. Lengthening of the adult activity season was driven by an increase in abundance of Culicoides and correlated with local increases in temperature and precipitation. This diversity in responses poses significant challenges for predicting future transmission and overwintering risk. 5. Policy implications. Our analysis not only shows a dramatic and consistent increase in the adult active period of Culicoides biting midges, but also that this varies significantly between sites. This suggests broad‐scale analyses alone are insufficient to understand the potential impacts of changes in climate on arbovirus vector populations. Understanding the impact of climate change on adult Culicoides seasonality and transmission of arboviruses requires the context of changes in a range of other local ecological drivers

Regulating services

No abstract available

Coat of many colours: colour pattern polymorphism and invasion by the harlequin ladybird Harmonia axyridis

The invasive alien harlequin ladybird, Harmonia axyridis, is a polymorphic species. Melanic and non-melanic individuals can be found in Britain. The UK Ladybird Survey receives occurrence records of H. axyridis including information on colour pattern form. Here we examine the frequency of colour pattern forms, spatially and temporally, and the influence of the different forms on the invasion process

Ladybirds in a changing world: ecological correlates of distribution trends in the British Coccinellidae

We investigated the effects on ladybirds of climate and habitat factors, species-level traits and niche overlap with the invasive non-native species Harmonia axyridis, on local-scale extinction and colonisation dynamics across mainland Britain. Several factors were significant, including habitat, climate & trait factors, but the strongest relationship was between extinction and niche overlap with H. axyridis

Pathogens on the horizon: enhancing understanding of invasive alien entomopathogens and impacts on biodiversity

Horizon-scanning, the systematic examination of future potential threats and opportunities, leading to prioritisation of invasive alien species (IAS) threats is an essential component of IAS management. Consensus methods have been used to undertake IAS horizon scanning for Great Britain; 30 species considered a high risk with respect to arriving, establishing and posing a threat to native biodiversity were identified. Information on microbes is often lacking from alien species databases and so pathogens were excluded from this consensus approach. There is a significant gap in our knowledge in relation to risk posed to biodiversity by “alien” microorganisms. We organised a workshop of 40 experts with five subgroups (terrestrial invertebrates, aquatic, plants, wildlife diseases and vectors of disease) to specifically consider invasive alien pathogens that have the potential to impact on biodiversity in the EU. The aim was to undertake a cross-cutting review of pathogen life histories to enhance understanding of threats, methods and knowledge gaps within natural and semi-natural systems, and to identify invasive alien pathogens that will impact on biodiversity in Europe. We identified key barriers to our understanding of the introduction, establishment and impact of invasive alien pathogens through two distinct phases; 1) preliminary consultation between experts prior to the workshop, 2) consensus-building across the expert groups during the workshop. We highlight the results of this consensus approach by examining the top 10 barriers identified. We then detail specific examples from the terrestrial invertebrate and aquatic sub-groups that exemplify these barriers and indicate how this may inform pan-European policy

A One Health Ecosystem Approach for Understanding and Mitigating Spill-Over of Tick-Borne Diseases in India’s Degraded Forests

International audienceExposure to zoonotic diseases can trade-off against livelihood-critical activities, particularly for tropical forest-dependent communities. Inter-disciplinary ecosystem approaches are critical to understanding this zoonotic spillover since the ecological and socio-political processes that make people vulnerable are jointly studied across degraded ecosystems. Moreover, One Health co-production of research and tools with cross-sectoral stakeholders can bridge gaps in knowledge and disease management between sectors. The MonkeyFeverRisk project applied these approaches to a case study of human viral tick-borne disease, Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD), affecting forest-dependent communities in the Western Ghats, south India, to inform management. Multiple tick species and vertebrate hosts are involved in Kyasanur Forest Disease Virus transmission, including wild rodents and shrews, monkeys and birds, while humans are “dead-end” hosts contracting the disease when bitten by infected ticks. By sampling across habitats within fragmented forests, we found that the risk of human exposure to infected ticks extends outside forests to forest edges, plantations, houses and gardens. The highest risk of human spillover was found in diverse agro-forestry landscapes, created when the moist evergreen forest is replaced with plantations and rice cultivation. Risks and impacts of KFD were highest for socially vulnerable, marginalised groups (e.g. lower caste, landless, elderly-headed households), exposed to ticks through occupations in forests, plantations and cropland. Aside from mortality, disease impacts include long-term, debilitating health issues, loss of income and reduced forest access. Key barriers to effective KFD prevention within these communities included limited information about KFD and its transmission, low efficacy of and mistrust in currently available vaccines and tick repellents, and livelihood concerns. Co-production delivered web-based tools to guide management, identifying high-risk areas, and education materials for local communities, health workers and managers detailing risks from ticks and tick-bite prevention measures

Study on invasive alien speciesDevelopment of risk assessments to tackle priority species and enhance prevention : final report (and annexes)

Providing evidence-based and scientifically robust risk assessments, as foreseen under Article 5 of the Regulation (EU) 1143/2014 on the prevention and management of the introduction and spread of invasive alien species (IAS), is one step in the process of developing the list of IAS of Union concern. The aim of the current study is to develop such risk assessments alongside evidence on management measures and their implementation cost and cost-effectiveness to help inform policies and prioritise actions. This study includes eight new risk assessments and associated management annexes, for the following species: Bipalium kewense (Kew Flatworm), Cervus nippon (Sika Deer), Cherax destructor (Common Yabby), Delairea odorata (Cape Ivy), Marisa cornuarietis (Colombian Ramshorn Apple Snail), Mulinia lateralis (Dwarf Surf Clam), Obama nungara (Obama Flatworm), and Pycnonotus jocosus (Red-whiskered Bulbul). This study further includes ten risk assessments from previous contracts, revised according to the comments from the Scientific Forum and other stakeholders, concerning the following species: Asterias amurensis (North Pacific Seastar), Axis axis (Axis Deer), Broussonetia papyrifera (Paper Mulberry), Callinectes sapidus (Atlantic Blue Crab), Cortaderia selloana (Pampas Grass), Faxonius immunis (Calico Crayfish), Misgurnus anguillicaudatus (Oriental Weatherfish), Pycnonotus cafer (Red-vented Bulbul), Vespa mandarinia (Asian Giant Hornet), and Xenopus laevis (African Claed Frog). In addition, two risk assessments submitted by a Member State were revised in this contract: Castor canadensis (North American Beaver) and Celastrus orbiculatus (Staff-vine)