Biting Diptera-host network structure varies with anthropogenic landscape modification

O_LIRapid and ongoing anthropogenic habitat modification has the potential to alter the species composition, abundance and activity of biting insect communities, which are important disease vectors. The resulting changes in the network of interactions between biting insects and their hosts have implications for the transmission of vector-borne pathogens. C_LIO_LIWe used DNA metabarcoding of Diptera blood meals to document bipartite networks of interactions between biting flies (Diptera) and their hosts (including humans, domesticated and wild animals) across a gradient of anthropogenic habitat modification (village, agricultural and near-natural habitat) surrounding two rural villages in Ghana. C_LIO_LIWe collected 7,095 biting Diptera (of 42 species) from 30 collection sites, and generated sequencing data from 75 blood meals (from 29 species). These blood meals contained DNA from 18 vertebrate host species, dominated by humans and their livestock. C_LIO_LIHabitats with lower levels of anthropogenic modification had higher richness of biting Diptera and their host species. Species diversity and evenness did not differ significantly among habitats. Less modified habitats had higher network specificity, but connectance was highest in heavily modified habitats. C_LIO_LIHumans were highly embedded within biting Diptera-host networks, detected in 68% of blood meals. The networks reveal several potential disease transmission pathways linking competent vectors with susceptible hosts. The presence of mixed blood meals containing DNA of both human and wild animal origin highlights the potential for transmission of established and emerging zoonotic disease via bridge vectors. The high betweenness-centrality within interaction networks of the important disease vector Culex watti, combined with its high abundance across all levels of anthropogenic landscape modification, suggest that it may be a connector species, linking and facilitating disease transmission between spatially distinct communities. C_LIO_LISynthesis and applications: Our results are of epidemiological interest, as they identify the exposure of humans to pathogen transmission cycles across a gradient of anthropogenic habitat modification through the movement of opportunistic bridge vectors. We discuss the implications for the transmission of emerging and established zoonotic disease and for the targeting and implementation of initiatives to reduce disease exposure and transmission. C_LI