Dr. Laura Ferguson a biology researcher and director of the Ferguson Lab, is on a mission to understand how climate change impacts mosquitoes and the risks of zoonotic diseases they pose. Her research investigates the effects of winter climate change on mosquito survival, immunity, and energy use, among other factors.

Focusing on six mosquito species in Nova Scotia, both native and invasive, Ferguson employs lab experiments to study the consequences of warmer winters and more erratic temperatures. Field studies will also help verify her findings.

Ferguson is particularly interested in how different mosquito populations respond to climate change. She plans to study populations of the invasive Asian Tiger mosquito across various locations in Canada and the United States. By paying close attention to their genetic makeup and winter survival abilities, she hopes to uncover any key differences between them.

This valuable information will not only sharpen our understanding of mosquito abundance and vector competence but also help in predicting shifts in insect biomass and biodiversity due to climate change. It will also help manage disease risks connected with zoonotic pathogens, pinpointing vulnerable periods for biocontrol measures aimed at reducing vector-borne disease threats across Canada.

“Canadians are already experiencing the impacts of climate change on vector-borne diseases with the rapid range expansion of black-legged ticks and Lyme disease, and we can expect to see shifts with mosquitoes and their pathogens as well,” says Ferguson. “We work to understand the biology of our mosquito populations so that we can predict trends in abundance, biodiversity, and disease potential in the future. Our lab trains the next generation of students in understanding and appreciating the interconnection of human, animal, and environmental health.”

Her Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) award includes a $190,000 Discovery Grant over five years and a one-year Discovery Launch supplement of $12,500.