Mosquito-borne diseases are increasingly becoming established in Europe, driven in part by environmental and climate change. Rising temperatures, urbanisation, and artificial light at night (ALAN) are expected to substantially influence mosquito habitats, behaviour, and disease transmission dynamics.
While temperature has long been recognised as a key factor shaping mosquito biology, ALAN is emerging as an overlooked environmental stressor. It may affect mosquito activity and biting behaviour, delay diapause, and potentially alter overwintering dynamics of West Nile virus (WNV). These effects may interact with the urban heat island phenomenon and influence patterns of human exposure, which remain insufficiently understood.
The complexity of these interactions highlights the need for an integrated One Health approach that brings together entomology, climate science, and behavioural research. By examining these interconnected factors, the LUMEN project aims to improve our understanding of mosquito-borne disease risks and to support the development of more effective prevention and vector control strategies.
The project is organised into several complementary subprojects. Researchers at Heidelberg University lead subproject 4, titled “Model-based mosquito-borne disease risk indicators capturing artificial and natural light–climate interactions”, focusing on developing model-based indicators to characterise better how artificial and natural light interact with climatic conditions to influence mosquito-borne disease risk.
The project is done in collaboration with Leibniz Institute for Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries, University of Erfurt and Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine
Read more about the project: https://hei-planet.com/lumen/
