@article{fdi:010095885,
  title = {{I}nvestigating the role of urban vegetation alongside other environmental variables in shaping {A}edes albopictus presence and abundance in {M}ontpellier, {F}rance},
  author = {{B}artholom{\'e}e, {C}. and {T}aconet, {P}aul and {M}ercat, {M}. and {G}rail, {C}. and {B}ouhsira, {E}. and {F}ournet, {F}lorence and {M}oiroux, {N}icolas},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{U}rban greening helps address urbanization challenges, but it may also favor mosquito species, vectors of pathogens causing human diseases. {T}his study examines the relationship between urban vegetation and the presence and abundance of {A}edes albopictus in {M}ontpellier, the second greenest city of {F}rance, while accounting for meteorology, microclimate, air quality, human socio-demography, and landscape. {F}rom {M}ay to {O}ctober 2023, adult mosquitoes were collected monthly in urban parks, residential areas, and the highly impervious city center using {BG}-{P}ro traps with odor and {CO}2 attractants. {M}icroclimate data (air temperature and relative humidity) were recorded on-site at each trap location using {H}ygrobutton data-loggers. {V}egetation, land cover, meteorological, air quality, and human demographic data were gathered from open-access databases. {A}edes albopictus presence and abundance were analysed according to environmental variables taken at different time lags and spatial distances using a two-stage modeling approach: bivariate analyses using generalized linear mixed models were conducted to select variables for inclusion in a multivariate random forest model, aiming to identify the factors that best explain {A}e. albopictus presence and abundance. {W}hile urban vegetation had a limited effect on {A}e. albopictus presence, the average patch size, and the percentage of area covered by low vegetation were among the most important predictors of abundance. {T}he main predictors for presence were minimum hourly temperature (24h-48h before sampling), minimum atmospheric pressure during sampling, and the weekly cumulated rainfall recorded six weeks before sampling. {T}he most important predictors of abundance were the average patch size of low vegetation, the maximum hourly temperatures during sampling, and the length of roads. {T}o our knowledge, this is the first study examining urban vegetation's influence on {A}e. albopictus in {F}rance, offering insights for urban planning and suggesting further research on vegetation's role in mosquito-borne disease transmission, particularly in the context of increasing dengue incidence in {E}urope.},
  keywords = {{FRANCE} ; {MONTPELLIER}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{PL}o{S} {O}ne},
  volume = {20},
  numero = {11},
  pages = {e0335793 [24 p.]},
  year = {2025},
  DOI = {10.1371/journal.pone.0335793},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010095885},
}