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Duran-Ahumada S, Karrer L, Cheng C, Roeske I, Pilchik J, Jimenez-Vallejo D, Smith E, Roy K, Kirstein OD, Martin-Park A, Contreras-Perera Y, Che-Mendoza A, Gonzalez-Olvera G, Puerta-Guardo HN, Uribe-Soto SI, Manrique-Saide P, Vazquez-Prokopec G. Wolbachia pipientis (Rickettsiales: Rickettsiaceae) mediated effects on the fitness and performance of Aedes aegypti (Diptera: Culicidae) under variable temperatures and initial larval densities. JOURNAL OF MEDICAL ENTOMOLOGY 2024; 61:1155-1167. [PMID: 39077840 DOI: 10.1093/jme/tjae088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2024] [Revised: 06/19/2024] [Accepted: 07/11/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024]
Abstract
Wolbachia pipientis (Hertig, 1936), also referred as Wolbachia, is a bacterium present across insect taxa, certain strains of which have been demonstrated to impact the fitness and capacity to transmit viruses in mosquitoes, particularly Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus, 1762). Most studies examine these impacts in limited sets of environmental regimes. Here we seek to understand the impacts of environmentally relevant conditions such as larval density, temperature, and their interaction on wAlbB-infected A. aegypti. Using a factorial design, we measured wAlbB stability (relative density, post-emergence in females, and in progeny), the ability for wAlbB to induce cytoplasmic incompatibility, and bacterial effects on mosquito fitness (fecundity, fertility, and body mass) and performance (adult survival and time to pupation) across 2 temperature regimes (fluctuating and constant) and 2 initial larval densities (low and high). Fluctuating daily regimes of temperature (27 to 40 °C) led to decreased post-emergence wAlbB density and increased wAlbB density in eggs compared to constant temperature (27 °C). An increased fecundity was found in wAlbB-carrying females reared at fluctuating temperatures compared to uninfected wild-type females. wAlbB-carrying adult females showed significantly increased survival than wild-type females. Contrarily, wAlbB-carrying adult males exhibited a significantly lower survival than wild-type males. We found differential effects of assessed treatments (Wolbachia infection status, temperature, and larval density) across mosquito sexes and life stages. Taken together, our results indicate that realistic conditions may not impact dramatically the stability of wAlbB infection in A. aegypti. Nonetheless, understanding the ecological consequence of A. aegypti-wAlbB interaction is complex due to life history tradeoffs under conditions faced by natural populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Duran-Ahumada
- Population Biology, Ecology, and Evolution Graduate Program Emory University Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory University Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Luiza Karrer
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory University Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Chun Cheng
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory University Atlanta, GA, USA
- Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Isabella Roeske
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory University Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Josie Pilchik
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory University Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - David Jimenez-Vallejo
- Population Biology, Ecology, and Evolution Graduate Program Emory University Atlanta, GA, USA
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory University Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Emily Smith
- Population Biology, Ecology, and Evolution Graduate Program Emory University Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Kristina Roy
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory University Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Oscar D Kirstein
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Emory University Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Abdiel Martin-Park
- Laboratory for the Biological Control of Aedes aegypti, Collaborative Unit for Entomological Bioassays (UCBE-LCB), Autonomous University of Yucatan, Merida, Mexico
| | - Yamili Contreras-Perera
- Laboratory for the Biological Control of Aedes aegypti, Collaborative Unit for Entomological Bioassays (UCBE-LCB), Autonomous University of Yucatan, Merida, Mexico
| | - Azael Che-Mendoza
- Laboratory for the Biological Control of Aedes aegypti, Collaborative Unit for Entomological Bioassays (UCBE-LCB), Autonomous University of Yucatan, Merida, Mexico
| | - Gabriela Gonzalez-Olvera
- Laboratory for the Biological Control of Aedes aegypti, Collaborative Unit for Entomological Bioassays (UCBE-LCB), Autonomous University of Yucatan, Merida, Mexico
| | - Henry N Puerta-Guardo
- Laboratory for the Biological Control of Aedes aegypti, Collaborative Unit for Entomological Bioassays (UCBE-LCB), Autonomous University of Yucatan, Merida, Mexico
| | - Sandra I Uribe-Soto
- Sciences Faculty, National University of Colombia, Medellin Campus, Medellin, Antioquia, Colombia
| | - Pablo Manrique-Saide
- Laboratory for the Biological Control of Aedes aegypti, Collaborative Unit for Entomological Bioassays (UCBE-LCB), Autonomous University of Yucatan, Merida, Mexico
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Yukilevich R, Aoki F, Egan S, Zhang L. Coevolutionary Interactions between Sexual and Habitat Isolation during Reinforcement. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol 2024; 16:a041431. [PMID: 38316551 PMCID: PMC11065176 DOI: 10.1101/cshperspect.a041431] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
Speciation often involves the evolution of multiple genetic-based barriers to gene flow (i.e., "coupling"). However, barriers may exhibit a diversity of evolutionary interactions during speciation. These dynamics are important in reinforcement, where selection may favor different prezygotic isolating barriers to avoid maladaptive hybridization. Here we study the interaction between evolution of sexual and habitat isolation. We first review the empirical literature where both barriers were explicitly considered, and then develop a population genetic model of reinforcement. Most studies of both sexual and habitat isolation were found in phytophagous insect systems. In 76% of these studies, both barriers coevolved; the remaining cases either showed only habitat isolation (21%) or only sexual isolation (3%). Our two-allele genetic mechanism model of each barrier also found that these often coevolved, but habitat isolation was generally more effective during reinforcement. Depending on the fitness of hybrids (e.g., Dobzhansky-Muller incompatibilities) and initial migration rate, these barriers could either facilitate, curtail, or have no effect on each other. This indicates that basic parameters will alter the underlying evolutionary dynamics, and thus the nature of "speciation coupling" will be highly variable in natural systems. Finally, we studied initially asymmetrical migration rates and found that populations with higher initial emigration evolved stronger habitat isolation, while populations that initially received more immigrants exhibited stronger sexual isolation. These results are in line with observations in some empirical studies, but more data is needed to test their generality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roman Yukilevich
- Department of Biology, Union College, Integrated Science and Engineering Complex, Schenectady, New York 12308, USA
| | - Fumio Aoki
- Department of Ecology and Evolution, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794, USA
| | - Scott Egan
- Department of Biosciences, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, USA
| | - Linyi Zhang
- Department of Biological Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, D.C. 20052, USA
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Kim J, Harris KD, Kim IK, Shemesh S, Messer PW, Greenbaum G. Incorporating ecology into gene drive modelling. Ecol Lett 2023; 26 Suppl 1:S62-S80. [PMID: 37840022 DOI: 10.1111/ele.14194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Gene drive technology, in which fast-spreading engineered drive alleles are introduced into wild populations, represents a promising new tool in the fight against vector-borne diseases, agricultural pests and invasive species. Due to the risks involved, gene drives have so far only been tested in laboratory settings while their population-level behaviour is mainly studied using mathematical and computational models. The spread of a gene drive is a rapid evolutionary process that occurs over timescales similar to many ecological processes. This can potentially generate strong eco-evolutionary feedback that could profoundly affect the dynamics and outcome of a gene drive release. We, therefore, argue for the importance of incorporating ecological features into gene drive models. We describe the key ecological features that could affect gene drive behaviour, such as population structure, life-history, environmental variation and mode of selection. We review previous gene drive modelling efforts and identify areas where further research is needed. As gene drive technology approaches the level of field experimentation, it is crucial to evaluate gene drive dynamics, potential outcomes, and risks realistically by including ecological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaehee Kim
- Department of Computational Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Keith D Harris
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Isabel K Kim
- Department of Computational Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Shahar Shemesh
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Philipp W Messer
- Department of Computational Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, USA
| | - Gili Greenbaum
- Department of Ecology, Evolution and Behavior, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
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Cator LJ, Wyer CAS, Harrington LC. Mosquito Sexual Selection and Reproductive Control Programs. Trends Parasitol 2021; 37:330-339. [PMID: 33422425 DOI: 10.1016/j.pt.2020.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2020] [Revised: 11/19/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The field of mosquito mating biology has experienced a considerable expansion in the past decade. Recent work has generated many key insights about specific aspects of mating behavior and physiology. Here, we synthesize these findings and classify swarming mosquito systems as polygynous. Male mating success is highly variable in swarms and evidence suggests that it is likely determined by both scramble competition between males and female choice. Incorporating this new understanding will improve both implementation and long-term stability of reproductive control tools.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren J Cator
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Ascot, UK
| | - Claudia A S Wyer
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Ascot, UK; Science and Solutions for a Changing Planet DTP, Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Laura C Harrington
- Department of Entomology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, NY, USA.
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Rigby LM, Rašić G, Peatey CL, Hugo LE, Beebe NW, Devine GJ. Identifying the fitness costs of a pyrethroid-resistant genotype in the major arboviral vector Aedes aegypti. Parasit Vectors 2020; 13:358. [PMID: 32690061 PMCID: PMC7372837 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-020-04238-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2020] [Accepted: 07/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Effective vector control measures are essential in a world where many mosquito-borne diseases have no vaccines or drug therapies available. Insecticidal tools remain the mainstay of most vector-borne disease management programmes, although their use for both agricultural and public health purposes has resulted in selection for resistance. Despite this, little is known about the fitness costs associated with specific insecticide-resistant genotypes and their implications for the management of resistance. In Aedes aegypti, the primary vector of dengue, chikungunya, and Zika, the best-characterised resistance mechanisms are single-point mutations that protect the voltage-gated sodium channel from the action of pyrethroids. Methods We evaluated the fitness cost of two co-occurring, homozygous mutations (V1016G and S989P) by back-crossing a resistant strain of A. aegypti from Timor-Leste into a fully susceptible strain from Queensland. The creation of the backcross strain allowed us to isolate these kdr mutations in an otherwise susceptible genetic background. Results In comparison to the susceptible strain, the backcrossed colony exhibited longer larval development times (5 days, P < 0.001), 24% fewer mosquitoes reached the adult stage (P = 0.005), had smaller wing lengths (females, P = 0.019 and males, P = 0.007) and adult female mosquitoes had a shorter average lifespan (6 days, P < 0.0006). Conclusions These results suggest specific and significant fitness costs associated with the double homozygous V1016G/S989P genotype in the absence of insecticides. The susceptibility of a population may recover if the fitness costs of resistant genotypes can be emphasised through the use of insecticide rotations and mosaics or the presence of untreated spatial or temporal refuges. ![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa M Rigby
- Australian Defence Force Malaria and Infectious Disease Institute, Gallipoli Barracks, Enoggera, QLD, 4051, Australia. .,Mosquito Control Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD, 4006, Australia. .,School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.
| | - Gordana Rašić
- Mosquito Control Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD, 4006, Australia
| | - Christopher L Peatey
- Australian Defence Force Malaria and Infectious Disease Institute, Gallipoli Barracks, Enoggera, QLD, 4051, Australia
| | - Leon E Hugo
- Mosquito Control Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD, 4006, Australia
| | - Nigel W Beebe
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia.,CSIRO, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Gregor J Devine
- Mosquito Control Laboratory, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Herston, QLD, 4006, Australia
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Jasper ME, Yang Q, Ross PA, Endersby-Harshman N, Bell N, Hoffmann AA. A LAMP assay for the rapid and robust assessment of Wolbachia infection in Aedes aegypti under field and laboratory conditions. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0225321. [PMID: 31747432 PMCID: PMC6867633 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0225321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2019] [Accepted: 11/01/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
With Wolbachia-based arbovirus control programs being scaled and operationalised around the world, cost effective and reliable detection of Wolbachia in field samples and laboratory stocks is essential for quality control. Here we validate a modified loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for routine scoring of Wolbachia in mosquitoes from laboratory cultures and the field, applicable to any setting. We show that this assay is a rapid and robust method for highly sensitive and specific detection of wAlbB Wolbachia infection within Aedes aegypti under a variety of conditions. We test the quantitative nature of the assay by evaluating pooled mixtures of Wolbachia-infected and uninfected mosquitoes and show that it is capable of estimating infection frequencies, potentially circumventing the need to perform large-scale individual analysis for wAlbB infection status in the course of field monitoring. These results indicate that LAMP assays are useful for routine screening particularly under field conditions away from laboratory facilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moshe E. Jasper
- Pest and Environmental Adaptation Research Group, School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Qiong Yang
- Pest and Environmental Adaptation Research Group, School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Perran A. Ross
- Pest and Environmental Adaptation Research Group, School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Nancy Endersby-Harshman
- Pest and Environmental Adaptation Research Group, School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Nicholas Bell
- Pest and Environmental Adaptation Research Group, School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ary A. Hoffmann
- Pest and Environmental Adaptation Research Group, School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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7
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Abstract
Wolbachia is an endosymbiotic Alphaproteobacteria that can suppress insect-borne diseases through decreasing host virus transmission (population replacement) or through decreasing host population density (population suppression). We contrast natural Wolbachia infections in insect populations with Wolbachia transinfections in mosquitoes to gain insights into factors potentially affecting the long-term success of Wolbachia releases. Natural Wolbachia infections can spread rapidly, whereas the slow spread of transinfections is governed by deleterious effects on host fitness and demographic factors. Cytoplasmic incompatibility (CI) generated by Wolbachia is central to both population replacement and suppression programs, but CI in nature can be variable and evolve, as can Wolbachia fitness effects and virus blocking. Wolbachia spread is also influenced by environmental factors that decrease Wolbachia titer and reduce maternal Wolbachia transmission frequency. More information is needed on the interactions between Wolbachia and host nuclear/mitochondrial genomes, the interaction between invasion success and local ecological factors, and the long-term stability of Wolbachia-mediated virus blocking.
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Affiliation(s)
- Perran A Ross
- Pest and Environmental Adaptation Research Group, School of BioSciences, Bio21 Institute, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia
| | - Michael Turelli
- Department of Evolution and Ecology, University of California, Davis, California 95616, USA;
| | - Ary A Hoffmann
- Pest and Environmental Adaptation Research Group, School of BioSciences, Bio21 Institute, The University of Melbourne, Victoria 3052, Australia
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Aldersley A, Pongsiri A, Bunmee K, Kijchalao U, Chittham W, Fansiri T, Pathawong N, Qureshi A, Harrington LC, Ponlawat A, Cator LJ. Too "sexy" for the field? Paired measures of laboratory and semi-field performance highlight variability in the apparent mating fitness of Aedes aegypti transgenic strains. Parasit Vectors 2019; 12:357. [PMID: 31324262 PMCID: PMC6642483 DOI: 10.1186/s13071-019-3617-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2019] [Accepted: 07/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Evaluating and improving mating success and competitive ability of laboratory-reared transgenic mosquito strains will enhance the effectiveness of proposed disease-control strategies that involve deployment of transgenic strains. Two components of the mosquito rearing process, larval diet quantity and aquatic environment - which are linked to physiological and behavioural differences in adults - are both relatively easy to manipulate. In mosquitoes, as for many other arthropod species, the quality of the juvenile habitat is strongly associated with adult fitness characteristics, such as longevity and fecundity. However, the influence of larval conditioning on mating performance is poorly understood. Here, we investigated the combined effects of larval diet amount and environmental water source on adult male mating success in a genetically modified strain of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes in competition with wild-type conspecifics. Importantly, this research was conducted in a field setting using low generation laboratory and wild-type lines. RESULTS By controlling larval diet (high and low) and rearing water source (field-collected and laboratory water), we generated four treatment lines of a genetically modified strain of Ae. aegypti tagged with fluorescent sperm. Laboratory reared mosquitoes were then competed against a low generation wild-type colony in a series of laboratory and semi-field mating experiments. While neither food quantity nor larval aquatic environment were found to affect male mating fitness, the transgenic lines consistently outperformed wild-types in laboratory competition assays, an advantage that was not conferred to semi-field tests. CONCLUSIONS Using a model transgenic system, our results indicate that differences in the experimental conditions of laboratory- and field-based measures of mating success can lead to variation in the perceived performance ability of modified strains if they are only tested in certain environments. While there are many potential sources of variation between laboratory and field lines, laboratory adaptation - which may occur over relatively few generations in this species - may directly impact mating ability depending on the context in which it is measured. We suggest that colony-hybridization with field material can potentially be used to mitigate these effects in a field setting. Release programs utilising mass-produced modified laboratory strains should incorporate comparative assessments of quality in candidate lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Aldersley
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park, Ascot, UK
| | - Arissara Pongsiri
- Vector Biology and Control Section, Department of Entomology, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Kamonchanok Bunmee
- Department of Medical Entomology, Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Udom Kijchalao
- Vector Biology and Control Section, Department of Entomology, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Wachiraphan Chittham
- Vector Biology and Control Section, Department of Entomology, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Thanyalak Fansiri
- Vector Biology and Control Section, Department of Entomology, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Nattaphol Pathawong
- Vector Biology and Control Section, Department of Entomology, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Alima Qureshi
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park, Ascot, UK
| | | | - Alongkot Ponlawat
- Vector Biology and Control Section, Department of Entomology, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Lauren J. Cator
- Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Silwood Park, Ascot, UK
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9
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Abstract
Adult Aedes aegypti mosquitoes are important vectors of human disease. The size of the adult female affects her success, fitness, and ability to transmit diseases. The size of the adults is determined during the aquatic larval stage. Competition among larvae for food influences the size of the pupa and thus the adult. In these experiments, the food level (mg/larva) and the density (larvae/vial) both affect intraspecific competition, which shows up as the interaction of the two factors. Furthermore, the total food per vial affects the nature of competition among the larvae, also apparent in the interaction of food and density. Male larvae are affected by the percent of males in the vial, but females are not. Seven biologically significant dependent variables were examined, and the data analyzed by multivariate analysis of variance to gain insight into the relationships among the variables and the effects of these factors on the larvae as they grew in small containers. Male and female larvae compete differently from one another for the particulate yeast cells in this experiment; female larvae outcompete males through larger size and by retaining cells within their gut at low total food levels. Under conditions of more intense competition, the pupal masses of both males and females are smaller, so the effect of competition is a reduced apparent food level. The age at pupation is also affected by food and density. Across the twenty treatment combinations of food/larva and larvae/vial, female larvae grew as though there were six different ecological environments while male larvae grew as though there were only four different environments. No interference competition was observed. Eradication efforts aimed at adult populations of this mosquito may inadvertently increase the size and robustness of the next generation of larvae, resulting in a subsequent adult population increase in the second generation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kurt Steinwascher
- Formerly of the Florida Medical Entomology Laboratory, FL, United States of America
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