Influence of Agricultural Activities and Forest Degradation on Mosquito Breeding Patterns, Abundance in and around Federal University Dutse, Jigawa State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study assessed the influence of agricultural activities and forest degradation on mosquito breeding patterns and abundance in and around Federal University Dutse (FUD), Jigawa State, Nigeria (11.70°N, 9.34°E). A comparative cross-sectional design was employed across five land-use types: intact forest, degraded forest, non-rice farmland, rice fields, and livestock areas. Environmental parameters including temperature, relative humidity, pH, canopy cover, and water depth were measured, while mosquito larvae and adults were collected using WHO-standard dipping and sweep net techniques. Results revealed significant variations in environmental conditions among land-use types (p < 0.05). Intact forests recorded the lowest mean temperature (27.30 °C) and highest canopy cover (78.40 %), while livestock areas exhibited the highest temperature (32.10 °C) and lowest canopy cover (22.35 %). Mosquito larval density varied significantly (F = 15.61; p < 0.001) with the highest in rice fields (7.85 ± 1.45 larvae/dip) and the lowest in intact forests (1.85 ± 0.42 larvae/dip). Three species—Anopheles gambiae (27.7%), Culex quinquefasciatus (28.8%), and Aedes aegypti (13.8%)—were identified. Larval density correlated positively with temperature (r = 0.66), water depth (r = 0.71), and farming intensity (r = 0.75), but negatively with canopy cover (r = –0.58). Regression analysis indicated that farming intensity (β = 1.75; p = 0.001) and water depth (β = 0.25; p = 0.007) were the strongest predictors of larval abundance (R² = 0.81). The study concludes that agricultural intensification and forest degradation significantly enhance mosquito breeding habitats, particularly in rice and livestock farming zones. These findings underscore the need for integrated vector management strategies linked to sustainable land-use planning around educational institutions in semi-arid regions of Nigeria.