A new study, published online in the British Ecological Society
journal, Functional Ecology, uses an innovative model to predict
the spread of human disease vectors in a changing climate.
Warren Porter, at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, has
developed a unique model, ‘NicheMapper‘, which allows
researchers to answer the question: “Where would a species with
a particular set of properties best survive and function on the
planet?” Uniquely, the model also allows an organisms potential
for evolutionary change to be incorporated, allowing the
researchers to examine a range of scenarios. The study focused
on the dengue fever vector, the mosquito Aedes aegypti, and on
its distribution and abundance in Australia. At present, the
mosquito is confined to areas around Queensland, however, by
modelling the insect’s life history traits, capacity to evolve
and climate change scenarios, the researchers conclude that a
warming climate will allow the mosquito to expand its range into
several populated areas of the conti