CULICIDAE VECTORS AND ANTHROPIC CHANGES IN A SOUTHERN BRAZIL NATURAL ECOSYSTEM

The influences of human-caused changes in a natural ecosystem of South ern Brazil on mosquitoes of the family Culicidae, which may be vectors of diseases, were investigated. Particular attention was given to the effects of deforestation and human settlements with artificial irriga tion. The work assumes a preserved environment as representative of th e natural ecosystem before human intervention. Another collection site , 50 kilometers from the primitive forest, that presented the same fau na and flora of the former some 50 years ago was chosen as the modifie d environment. The results clearly showed that some species, such as t he Kerteszia subgenus, do not survive these changes, whereas others ha ve found such conditions favorable and have proliferated.