title: Effect of temperature and search area on the functional response of Anisops sardea (Hemiptera: Notonectidae) against Anopheles stephensi in laboratory bioassay.
abstract: Present study was carried out to establish the influence of abiotic factors on foraging activities of a predatory hemipteran insect Anisops sardea against Anopheles stephensi larvae. The functional response of A. sardea was evaluated in variable density of prey items with variation in search area (100, 250, 500 and 1000ml water volume) and temperatures (20, 25 and 30°C). The results of laboratory bioassay revealed that prey consumption rate of predator species was positively related with increasing temperature and inversely related with increasing search area. Polynomial logistic regression equations and associated parameters showed that A. sardea exhibited a type II functional response in variable search area and type-III response at variable temperatures. Related response specific attack rates and handling times were also evaluated in presence of specific abiotic factors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Bankura Sammilani College, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Rajendra Prasad
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Mondal
authors.affiliation: Mosquito and Microbiology Research Units, The University of Burdwan, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Goutam
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Chandra
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics, Bankura Christian College, West Bengal, India.
authors.forename: Subhasis
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bandyopadhyay
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, Bankura Christian College, West Bengal, India. Electronic address: anupamghosh75@yahoo.co.in.
authors.forename: Anupam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghosh
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000852:Anopheles; D001681:Biological Assay; D004777:Environment; D006430:Hemiptera / Q000502:physiology*; D007814:Larva; D010572:Pest Control, Biological; D011235:Predatory Behavior; D013696:Temperature
keywords: Anisop sardea; Anopheles stephensi; Attack rate; Functional response; Handling time; Search area; Temperature