OUR RESEARCH

Artificial Light use is exploding in Africa, and its increasingly considered a global change driver. It alters insect biology also, and so with generous support from the Jennifer Ward Oppenheimer research grant, this theme explores how our light use is affecting mosquitoes, which carry some of the world’s worst diseases. Examples include a review outlining the mechanisms that may underpin how artificial light alters vector disease transmission, and charts a research agenda for the global scientific community on how to address this pernicious issue.

Scaling artificial light at night and disease vector interactions into socio-ecological systems: a conceptual appraisal.

Coetzee, B.W.T., Burke, A.M., Koekemoer, L.L., Robertson, M.P., Smit, I.P.J. 2023. Scaling artificial light at night and disease vector interactions into socio-ecological systems: a conceptual appraisal. Philosophical Transactions B, 378. Doi:10.1098/rstb.2022.0371

The impacts of artificial light at night in Africa: Prospects for a research agenda.

Coetzee, B.W., Smit, I.P., Ackermann, S., Gaston, K.J. 2023. The impacts of artificial light at night in Africa: Prospects for a research agenda. South African Journal of Science, 119(3/4).  doi:10.17159/sajs.2023/13988

Artificial Light as a Modulator of Mosquito-Borne Disease Risk. 

Coetzee, B.W.T., Gaston, K.J., Koekemoer, L.L., Kruger, T., Riddin, M.A., Smit, I.P.J. 2022. Artificial Light as a Modulator of Mosquito-Borne Disease Risk. Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. 9, pp 768090. doi:10.3389/fevo.2021.768090