Effects of sodium concentration on Aedes triseriatus (Diptera: Culicidae) and microorganisms in treeholes.
A 2-factor field microcosm experiment with 2 concentrations of sodium ([Na]) was performed with and without mosquitoes to test the hypothesis that Na is a limiting nutrient for the treehole mosquito, Aedes triseriatus (Say), at concentrations observed in the field. This experiment also tested the effects of both water [Na] and mosquito larvae on cohabiting treehole microorganisms. Female Ae. triseriatus emerging from microcosms with high-[Na] were significantly larger than females emerging from low-[Na] microcosms. There was no effect of [Na] on the size of males; however, males had higher body [Na] than females at both [Na]. Densities of protozoans were lower in the presence of mosquitoes, and densities of bacteria were lower at high than low [Na]. Water [Na] may affect mosquito populations by decreasing energy expenditures to obtain Na at higher [Na], allowing for more allocation to growth. Males were not affected by the [Na]s tested here. This experiment agrees with field observations and other laboratory studies indicating that [Na] may affect populations of Ae. triseriatus under certain conditions.
Department of Biology, 208 Mueller Laboratory, Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802, USA.
C J
CJ
Paradise
W A
WA
Dunson
D000330:Aedes / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000469:parasitology; D000818:Animals; D001419:Bacteria / Q000254:growth & development*; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000254:growth & development*; D005260:Female; D007814:Larva; D008297:Male; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D012964:Sodium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014197:Trees; D014867:Water / Q000469:parasitology*; D014871:Water Microbiology
D014867:Water; D012964:Sodium