Sand fly (Phlebotominae) activity and abundance in vertical strata in a tropical dry forest in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

The study of the insect vectors dynamics in a vertical forest gradient provides basic information on aspects of their natural history that influence the rate of pathogen transmission. Thus, we analyzed the temporal dynamics of sand fly species along vertical strata of a tropical dry forest in Yucatan, an area previously identified as a transmission hotspot for Leishmania mexicana. We compared the richness and abundance of sand fly species between the underground and canopy stratum. Then, we analyzed their relationship with environmental variables such as temperature and humidity. No significant differences in species diversity and abundance were detected between the two ecotopes. Psathyromyia shannoni and Dampfomyia deleoni were the only species structured in the vertical dimension. Observed diversity in both strata responded similarly across both monthly and seasonal time scales. Data analyses indicated that relative humidity influenced the vertical distribution of Pa. shannoni and Da...., , # Sand fly (Phlebotominae) activity and abundance in vertical strata in a tropical dry forest in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

Dataset DOI: [10.5061/dryad.4j0zpc8q7](10.5061/dryad.4j0zpc8q7)

## Description of the data and file structure

Excel files:

* Enviromental_variables.xlsx
* Sandfly_species.xlsx

Descriptions

*Environmental variables*

* Ecotope: the physical environment in which the specimen was obtained. In this database, the ecotopes are the canopy and understory.
* Hour: The collection period (h) where First (6:00-6:59), Second (7:00-7:59), Third (8:00-8:59), Fourth (9:00-9:59), and Fifth (10:00-11:00).
* Month: The month that the specimen was obtained, where Nov (November), Sep (September), Mar (March), Jun (June), Jul (July), Jan (January), Feb (February), and Apr (April).
* Season: time of the year that specimen was obtained. \"Nortes\" refers to a season exclusive to the Yucatan Peninsula mainly associated with wind intensity of 11–17 m/s affecting coastal cities of th...,