Diversidad de vectores de Plasmodium y rasgos funcionales de los árboles del bosque perturbado en Tingo María, 2022

Plant communities in the area of Tingo María, Peru, are subject to the effects of climate change, generating modifications in their biodiversity, impacting their ecosystem. On the other hand, it has been reported that activities that cause disturbance of tropical forests can favor the persistence of vectors of metaxenic diseases such as malaria, which represents a public health problem due to the high rate of morbidity and mortality in the region. A descriptive study was carried out to evaluate the functional traits of the disturbed forest of Tingo María, observing that the plant species Parkia panurensis presented a higher average total height; 47% of the species presented a high basic density of standing trees; the Euphorbiaceae family and the species Senefeldera inclinata presented the highest biomass value, while Micropholis guyanensis and Pierre Subsp. Guyanensis showed the highest percentage and crown cover, respectively; Likewise, Pseudopiptadenia suaveolens had the longest crown length, Eugenia egensis had the largest diameter and Senefeldera inclinata had the best importance value index. In addition, high circulation of malaria vectors was demonstrated in the area, being An. pseudopunctipennis, An. benarrochi, An. darling and An. evansae the most frequent, while the most common insect genera were Anopheles, Aedes, Coqueletilia and Culex. The functional traits of plant species have allowed them to adapt themselves to adverse conditions, however, the presence of abundant malaria vectors makes it necessary to implement environmental impact strategies that reduce the risk of malaria in the region.