title: Life Table Analysis of Culex pipiens Under Simulated Weather Conditions In Egypt.
abstract: The effect of fluctuating ambient air and water temperatures and relative humidity (RH) on the population parameters of Culex pipiens was studied using life table data during the winter-spring and summer-autumn seasons in Giza Province, Egypt. In winter-spring (20.46 ± 1.8°C and 51.68 ± 3.63% RH), the preadult survival rate for Cx. pipiens was 80.65%, which was higher than the 50.00% observed in the summer-autumn (30.19 ± 0.67°C and 52.68 ± 8.04% RH). During the winter-spring period, the developmental time of egg, larvae, and pupae of Cx. pipiens was 3.52, 12.69, and 5.92 days, respectively. There was a significantly shorter developmental period for summer-autumn (1.0, 8.59, and 2.04 days, respectively). Both female and male adults survived longer during winter-spring (61.83 days for female and 42.62 days for male adults) than during summer-autumn (24.38 days for female and 20.83 days for male adults). The fecundity (F) of female Cx. pipiens (524.7 eggs/female) and the net reproductive rate (R0) (245.4 offspring) were significantly higher during winter-spring seasons than in the summer-autumn (163.3 eggs/female and 38.10 offspring). Despite the higher F and R0values in winter-spring, the intrinsic rate of increase (rm= 0.1181/day) and the finite rate of increase (λ = 1.1253/day) of the Cx. pipiens population were significantly lower compared to summer-autumn (rm= 0.1648/day; λ = 1.1792/day). Consequently, the mean generation time during winter-spring was significantly longer (46.6 days) than during summer-autumn (22.09 days). The data suggest that Cx. pipiens is an r-strategist.
authors.affiliation: Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Fayoum University, PO Box 63514, Tawfik El-Hakeem, Al Fayoum Province, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ehab M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Abouzied
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003465:Culex / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D004534:Egypt; D005260:Female; D006813:Humidity; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D015993:Life Tables; D008297:Male; D010063:Ovum / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D011157:Population Dynamics; D011679:Pupa / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology; D012621:Seasons; D013696:Temperature
keywords: Culex pipiens; fecundity; life table; longevity; weather