Document Type
Article
Publication Date
9-1-2014
Department
Biological Sciences
School
Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences
Abstract
The mosquitoes Aedes albopictus (Stegomyia albopicta) (Skuse) and Culex quinquefasciatus (Say) (Diptera: Culicidae) are common inhabitants of tyres and other artificial containers, which constitute important peridomestic mosquito breeding habitats. We tested the hypotheses that interspecific resource competition between the larvae of these species is asymmetrical, that the concentration of chemicals associated with decomposing detritus affects the competitive outcomes of these species, and that wild and colonized strains of Cx. quinquefasciatus are affected differently by competition with Ae. albopictus. We conducted two laboratory competition experiments wherein we measured survivorship and estimated population growth (λ′) in both species under multiple mixed‐species densities. Under varying resource levels, competition was asymmetrical: Ae. albopictus caused competitive reductions or exclusions of Cx. quinquefasciatus under conditions of limited resources. In a second experiment, which used both wild and colonized strains of Cx. quinquefasciatus, organic chemical compounds associated with decomposing detritus did not affect the competitive outcome. The colonized strain of Cx. quinquefasciatus had greater survivorship and adult mass, and faster development times than the wild strain, but both strains were similarly affected by competition with Ae. albopictus. Competition between these species may have important consequences for vector population dynamics, especially in areas in which tyres and artificial containers constitute the majority of mosquito breeding habitats.
Publication Title
Medical and Veterinary Entomology
Volume
28
Issue
3
First Page
273
Last Page
286
Recommended Citation
Allgood, D.,
Yee, D. A.
(2014). Influence of Resource Levels, Organic Compounds and Laboratory Colonization On Interspecific Competition Between the Asian Tiger Mosquito Aedes albopictus (Stegomyia albopicta) and the Southern House Mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus. Medical and Veterinary Entomology, 28(3), 273-286.
Available at: https://aquila.usm.edu/fac_pubs/15158
Comments
This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced PDF of an article accepted for publication in 'Medical and Veterinary Entomology' following peer review. The version of record is available online at: 10.1111/mve.12047.