Thursday, May 21, 2020

Preventing Malaria Outbreaks A Parasite Of The Genus...

I believe that trying to eliminate mosquitoes will not prevent malaria outbreaks. If malaria is a parasite of the genus Plasmodium (CDC, 2011) and is only present in the female population, then wiping out female mosquitoes means no procreation. As learned in previous units; disrupting the ecological cycle can cause greater damage than for the greater good. Mosquitoes are apart of the the food chain; they give other organisms, such as aquatic animals that prey on the mosquito larvae, a food source. The most common predator is the Gambusia affinis (Karen, 2015). If we were to get rid of mosquitoes, then we’d be cutting off food supplies for other aquatic species. Any change to an ecosystem can drastically affect the cycle of life in a given area. Consequences can lead to (in worst case scenario) extinction of necessary organisms that are help not only the other organisms around it, but the environment as well. Another reason this wouldn’t be effective is because bacteria is progressing and becoming smarter, more manipulative and can resist easier than back then. Malaria will most likely look for another host to live off of. There are thousands of other species on Earth that haven’t been discovered yet, so it’s impossible to say only female mosquitoes are the only carriers of this parasitic disease (CDC, 2011). This parasite could be living in an unknown organism and could have the potential to cause just as much damage as the mosquito can. Malaria (in rare cases if not in a

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