New classification of natural breeding habitats for Neotropical anophelines in the Yanomami Indian Reserve, Amazon Region, Brazil and a new larval sampling methodology

摘要

Here we present the first in a series of articles about the ecology of immature stages of anophelines in the BrazilianYanomami area. We propose a new larval habitat classification and a new larval sampling methodology. Wealso report some preliminary results illustrating the applicability of the methodology based on data collected in theBrazilian Amazon rainforest in a longitudinal study of two remote Yanomami communities, Parafuri and Toototobi.In these areas, we mapped and classified 112 natural breeding habitats located in low-order river systems based ontheir association with river flood pulses, seasonality and exposure to sun. Our classification rendered seven types oflarval habitats: lakes associated with the river, which are subdivided into oxbow lakes and nonoxbow lakes, floodedareas associated with the river, flooded areas not associated with the river, rainfall pools, small forest streams, mediumforest streams and rivers. The methodology for larval sampling was based on the accurate quantification of theeffective breeding area, taking into account the area of the perimeter and subtypes of microenvironments present perlarval habitat type using a laser range finder and a small portable inflatable boat. The new classification and newsampling methodology proposed herein may be useful in vector control programs.