Comparative Analysis of Mosquito Diversity in Coastal Habitats: Remote vs. Settlement-Adjacent Areas in South Kalimantan, Indonesia

Mosquitoes play a critical role in public health as vectors of various diseases, and understanding their distribution across different habitats is essential for developing effective control strategies. This study examined mosquito diversity in two coastal habitats of South Kalimantan, Indonesia—remote coastal areas and areas adjacent to human settlements— to assess the impact of human activity on mosquito populations. Using multiple trapping methods, the study found that areas near humans had higher species richness (22 species) than remote areas (10 species), along with greater diversity and evenness, as indicated by higher Shannon-Wiener and Simpson indices. These findings suggest that human settlements create diverse microhabitats and breeding sites that support a wider range of mosquito species. However, mosquito abundance was greater in remote areas (9,362 individuals) than in settlement-adjacent areas (7,523), implying dominance by a few species in undisturbed habitats. Community composition differed significantly between the two habitats, as reflected by the Bray-Curtis dissimilarity index of 0.601. These differences are likely influenced by habitat heterogeneity, human activity, and breeding site availability. These findings underscore the need for targeted vector control, particularly in settlement-adjacent areas, where higher species richness may increase the risk of disease transmission. Continued research on dominant species and their vectorial roles is recommended to improve mosquito management in coastal areas.