Diversity Components in Mosquito-borne Diseases in Face of Climate Change

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Carl Beierkuhnlein; Professor Jonas Schmidt-Chanasit, Ph.D.
• Subject Area: Ecology and Biodiversity of Plants and Ecosystems ; Physical Geography
• Term: from 2019 to 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 428532048

DiMoC is a proposal for the BiodivERsA Pan-European call for transnational research proposals on “Effects of biodiversity status and changes on animal, human and plant health”. The DiMoC project includes 4 institutions from 3 countries (De, Fr, Be). The project will be linking experienced and young scientists from both genders and a broad spectrum of disciplines (e.g. entomology, virology, biogeography, human geography, ecology, anthropology).The biodiversity research conducted in DiMoC will create added value for a better understanding of Vector-Borne Diseases (VBDs) and to develop guidance for nature-based solutions for this complex societal challenge. With particular focus on the diversity of pathogens, mosquitos, and hosts, we address emerging threats for Europe. In recent years, previously either neglected or not recorded transmissions of pathogens to humans are reported. Mosquito-Borne Diseases (MBDs) related to arboviruses such as West-Nile (WNV), Chikungunya (CHIKV), Usutu (USUV), or Dengue (DENV) are emerging threats to European citizens. Vaccination and pharmaceutical treatment is either not available, or very limited. This requires proactive surveillance and control measures to avoid local or regional outbreaks. A better understanding of transmission cycles and the mediating role of biodiversity is needed.DiMoC aims to explore the complex interplays of MBDs with climatic conditions, biotic interactions in ecosystems, and the various ways of human unintended or planned interference in detail. The main focus of DiMoC will be on continental Europe. We will additionally study vector-pathogen systems from European overseas (Martinique, La Réunion) given the transport of goods and travelling activities are important invasion routes of vectors and pathogens. Biodiversity plays a significant role at various stages of pathogen transmission.DiMoC addresses diversity within and between species and communities: arboviral diversity, mosquito diversity, and host diversity (Wp1, WP2, WP3). At regional scale, we analyze biotic interactions and diversity patterns in landscapes of Germany, France and Mexico (WP3). We extend our perspectives to the European continent to identify the climatic and societal drivers of current patterns of likelihood of transmission (WP4). Based on this, we project future trends at the continental scale (WP4). Herein, we include quantitative measures of uncertainty illustrated by spatio-temporal patterns of SD between Global Circulation Models.DiMoC has a strong communication component (WP5) in order to facilitate the exchange with stakeholders and professional groups from European mainland and two European overseas regions to assess relative disease risks. The mutual exchange of information fosters the quality of the studies and enhances the translation into practice. Policy briefs will condense the outcomes to common language and offer practice-oriented conclusions for the management of biodiversity and risk mitigation.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Belgium, France
• Partner Organisation: Agence Nationale de la Recherche / The French National Research Agency; Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek - Vlaanderen ; Research Foundation Flanders (FWO)
• Cooperation Partners: Professorin Dr. Ruth Müller; Dr. David Roiz