title: Regulation of Aedes aegypti population dynamics in field systems: quantifying direct and delayed density dependence.
abstract: Transgenic strains of Aedes aegypti have been engineered to help control transmission of dengue virus. Although resources have been invested in developing the strains, we lack data on the ecology of mosquitoes that could impact the success of this approach. Although studies of intra-specific competition have been conducted using Ae. aegypti larvae, none of these studies examine mixed age cohorts at densities that occur in the field, with natural nutrient levels. Experiments were conducted in Mexico to determine the impact of direct and delayed density dependence on Ae. aegypti populations. Natural water, food, and larval densities were used to estimate the impacts of density dependence on larval survival, development, and adult body size. Direct and delayed density-dependent factors had a significant impact on larval survival, larval development, and adult body size. These results indicate that control methods attempting to reduce mosquito populations may be counteracted by density-dependent population regulation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Entomology, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC, USA. rachael_katz@ncsu.edu
authors.forename: Rachael K
authors.initials: RK
authors.lastname: Walsh
authors.forename: Cristobal L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Aguilar
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Facchinelli
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Valerio
authors.forename: Janine M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Ramsey
authors.forename: Thomas W
authors.initials: TW
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: Alun L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Lloyd
authors.forename: Fred
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gould
mesh_terms: D000330:Aedes / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D000818:Animals; D049628:Body Size; D005260:Female; D007814:Larva; D008297:Male; D008800:Mexico; D009032:Mosquito Control; D011156:Population Density; D011157:Population Dynamics; D012621:Seasons; D014921:Wings, Animal / Q000033:anatomy & histology