Harrison Lambert

Harrison's research aims to understand what impacts the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) may have on Anopheles mosquitoes, the vectors of malaria, with respect to their ecology and biology. Water in rice fields can provide aquatic habitats for these mosquitoes, and this project will focus on exploring the abiotic and biotic factors that may make SRI more or less suitable for the development of malaria mosquitoes. In malaria endemic countries such as Tanzania, where field research will take place, rice cultivation has already been linked to ecological changes in vector populations, however the impact on malaria burden is unclear. Tanzania has and plans to continue increasing rice production to meet a growing consumer demand. Climate adapted practices such as SRI are being promoted to rice farmers in an effort to increase yields, while saving water and reducing agricultural inputs. This research will help to inform agricultural practice in ways that mitigate increased production of mosquitoes, especially in resource-poor communities that depend on rice as a commodity but may be disproportionately affected by malaria.