The Hydrolandscape Method of Territory Zoning: Concept and Application Experience

The paper describes the method and algorithm for creating maps of hydrolandscapes to solve practical tasks of predicting and controlling the abundance of common bloodsucking insects, such as horseflies and mosquitoes. The hydrolandscape method consists in dividing the regions into zones based on the source, distribution, and storage of moisture as the most important ecosystemic component. The method evaluates the influence of insufficient or excessive moisture content on the activity of amphibiotic insects. Hydrolandscapes unite the landscapes that are similar in moisture content, relief, mesoclimate, soils, vegetation, and groups of bloodsucking insects. In this paper, we describe the experience of applying this method to different regions of Northwestern Russia: Novgorod, Leningrad, Pskov provinces and the Komi Republic. The hydrolandscape method provides the means for predicting the species composition and relative abundance of bloodsucking insects in remote areas before their economic development.