Direct and indirect effects of animal detritus on growth, survival, and mass of invasive container mosquito Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae).
Compared with plant detritus, animal detritus yields higher growth rates, survival, adult mass, and population growth of container-dwelling mosquitoes. It is unclear whether the benefit from animal detritus to larvae results from greater microorganism growth, direct ingestion of animal detritus by larvae, or some other mechanism. We tested alternative mechanisms by which animal detritus may benefit the invasive container-dwelling mosquito Aedes albopictus (Skuse) (Diptera: Culicidae). In the laboratory, larvae were reared under three conditions with access to 1) detritus, but where microorganisms in the water column were reduced through periodic flushing; 2) water column microorganisms, but larvae had no direct access to detritus; or 3) both water column microorganisms and detritus. Access treatments were conducted for three masses of animal detritus: 0.005, 0.010, and 0.020 g. Water column bacterial productivity (measured via incorporation of [3H] leucine) decreased significantly with flushing and with larval presence. Removing microorganisms through flushing significantly reduced mass of adult mosquitoes (both sexes), and it significantly prolonged developmental times of females compared with treatments where water column microorganisms or microorganisms and detritus were available. Survival to adulthood was greatest when larvae had access to both water column microorganisms and 0.020 g of detritus, but it declined when only water column microorganisms were available or when 0.005 g of detritus was used. These findings indicate both direct (as a food source) and indirect (assisting with decomposition of detritus) roles of microorganisms in producing the benefit of animal detritus to container mosquito larvae.
Yee
Donald A
DA
Department of Biological Sciences, Illinois State University, Normal, IL 61790-4120, USA. dyee@ucalgary.ca
Kesavaraju
Banugopan
B
Juliano
Steven A
SA
D000330:Aedes / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000821:Animal Feed; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D017753:Ecosystem; D005260:Female; D007814:Larva; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011156:Population Density; D012727:Sex Characteristics
Appl Environ Microbiol. 1999 Jun;65(6):2661-73
10347058
J Am Mosq Control Assoc. 2000 Sep;16(3):175-88
11081644
J Med Entomol. 2001 Mar;38(2):130-4
11296813
J Med Entomol. 2001 Sep;38(5):711-9
11580044
Emerg Infect Dis. 2001 Sep-Oct;7(5):807-11
11747692
Microb Ecol. 2003 Jan;45(1):11-9
12447584
Science. 1992 Jul 24;257(5069):526-7
1321985
Annu Rev Entomol. 1992;37:349-76
1347208
J Med Entomol. 2000 Jan;37(1):40-52
15218906
J Med Entomol. 2000 May;37(3):364-72
15535579
J Med Entomol. 2005 Jan;42(1):57-62
15691009
J Med Entomol. 2006 Jul;43(4):677-88
16892624
J Med Entomol. 2007 Mar;44(2):215-21
17427689
Ecology. 2005 Dec;86(12):3289-95
17450188
Freshw Biol. 2006 Mar;51(3):448-459
17476312
Ecol Lett. 2005 May;8(5):558-74
17637849
Science. 1991 Jul 12;253(5016):189-91
1853204
Ecology. 2005 Dec;86(12):3279-3288
19096729
Biol Invasions. 2002 Sep 1;4(3):283-297
19777120
Ann Entomol Soc Am. 2004 Jul 1;97(4):720-728
23197877
Oecologia. 1977 Jun;30(2):111-127
28309427
Oecologia. 1982 Apr;53(1):1-6
28310595
Science. 1987 May 29;236(4805):1114-6
3576225
J Med Entomol. 1995 Jul;32(4):554-62
7650719
Med Vet Entomol. 1997 Oct;11(4):305-9
9430106