Global warming is starting to disrupt ecosystems in the Arctic in an unprecedented way. Rising temperatures have given mosquitos a much larger area of activity and are beginning to appear at historically odd times, Nature World Report published recently. This is a clear problem but who and what are really affected by this emergence of mosquitos in the Arctic?
First and foremost, "Increased mosquito abundance, in addition to northward range expansions of additional pest species, will have negative consequences for the health and reproduction of caribou," says Lauren Culler, postdoctoral researcher at Dartmouth's Dickey Center's Institute of Arctic Studies.
She adds, "Warming in the Arctic can thus challenge the sustainability of wild caribou and managed reindeer in Fennoscandia (Norway, Sweden, Finland and parts of northwest Russia), which are an important subsistence resource for local communities."
Arctic mosquito swarms are legendary and can number in the millions. A swarm, once it attacks, can kill a caribou, the species most vulnerable to the increased mosquito population, The Atlantic reported. Also, earlier hatching times no longer coincide with the season that makes mosquitos prime targets for birds. This means more of them survive to adulthood and, therefore, a menace to caribou and humans alike.
A rise of 2 degrees Celsius is enough to make mosquito populations explode. The only way to defend against mosquitos is to run to colder areas where they cannot survive. However, when the entire tundra becomes warmer, there is no place to run. The caribou will just be the first specie to die out if and when this trend continues, National Geographic reported.
Also, the obvious diseases that mosquitos carry will now affect more people. As swarms pick up and transfer viruses and bacteria to people, the number of victims will surely go up. Malaria, dengue, and yellow fever are just some of the deadly diseases that humans face with a stronger and more resilient mosquito population.
