Biological warfare in the garden pond: tadpoles suppress the growth of mosquito larvae

Mokany, Allie; Shine, Richard

doi:10.1046/j.1365-2311.2003.00476.x

Cited by 30 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…In contrast, there was no difference in larval survival between the same low and high food availability in a study with only mosquito larvae (Kassim et al , ). This suggests that interspecific competition at both temperatures was primarily exploitative competition, contrasting previous findings implicating chemical interference from L. peronii (Mokany & Shine, 2003a,b). The mechanism for intraspecific density‐dependent competition in C. quinquefasciatus was temperature‐dependent.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 98%

Temperature modulates the effects of predation and competition on mosquito larvae

Grigaltchik

Webb

Seebacher

2016

Ecological Entomology

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1. Predation risk affects interspecific competition by decreasing foraging activity and relative competitive ability. Predation risk is determined by predators' prey choice and prey responses, both of which can be influenced by temperature. Temperature is especially important for larval prey and can result in a trade‐off between predator‐induced decreases in foraging activity and growth. Interspecific competition must also be examined in relation to intraspecific density‐dependent competition; weaker interspecific competition leads to coexistence of competitors. 2. This study explored how temperature (15 and 25 °C) could affect a focal species, larvae of the mosquito Culex quinquefasciatus, by examining prey choice in a shared predator (mosquitofish; Gambusia holbrooki) and the effects of predation risk on interspecific competition with Limnodynastes peronii tadpoles. Intraspecific density‐dependent competition in C. quinquefasciatus at these temperatures was also examined. 3. At 25 °C, G. holbrooki consumption of both C. quinquefasciatus and L. peronii increased; however, the effects of interspecific competition on mosquito survival did not decrease with L. peronii exposure to predation risk. The relationship between intraspecific density‐dependent competition and interspecific competition was temperature‐dependent, with competitive dominance of L. peronii at 25 °C. Male and female mosquitoes had different temperature‐dependent responses, indicating sex‐specific intrinsic responses to starvation and differential selection pressures. At 25 °C, females were susceptible to interspecific competition by L. peronii, while males were susceptible to intraspecific competition. 4. The use of competitors as biological controls has implications for mosquito disease transmission, and these results suggest that control effectiveness may be modified by climate change.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 98%

Temperature modulates the effects of predation and competition on mosquito larvae

Grigaltchik

Webb

Seebacher

2016

Ecological Entomology

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“…A reduction in L. sylvaticus larval density could alter communities through numerous direct and indirect pathways. Examples include changes in the intensity of competition with cladocerans or mosquito larvae (Mokany and Shine 2002;2003b;Blaustein and Chase 2007), predation on benthic macroinvertebrates such as chironomid larvae (Petranka and Kennedy 1999), or intraguild predation on other amphibians that share pools (Burley et al 2006;Blaustein and Chase 2007;Sours and Petranka 2007).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of road salts on the composition of seasonal pond communities: can the use of road salts enhance mosquito recruitment?

Petranka

Doyle

2009

Aquat Ecol

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Road deicing agents can enter nearby wetlands and alter the composition of aquatic communities by directly eliminating salt-intolerant species and modifying ecological interactions between tolerant species. We conducted field experiments to examine the sensitivity of taxa that inhabit seasonal wetlands and to determine whether salt contamination could increase the production of ovipositing insects. In two outdoor mesocosm experiments, cladocerans and copepods rarely survived concentrations of commercial road salt [1,200 mg L -1 , while wood frog eggs and hatchlings (Lithobates sylvaticus) were not strongly impacted until concentrations exceeded 4,500 mg L -1 . Shore flies (Ephydridae), mosquitoes (Culex restuans; Anopheles punctipennis) and midge larvae (Chironomidae) were more salt tolerant than macrozooplankton. These taxa tended to be absent or relatively rare in experimental mesocosms with low salinities, but abundant in mesocosms with intermediate to high salinities. We conducted two additional experiments to examine whether adult choice of oviposition sites may in part explain the rarity of Cx. restuans in pools with low salinity. These revealed that Cx. restuans reduced oviposition rates in water-filled containers with cladocerans, and reduced clutch size in the presence of Lithobates larvae. However, salt concentration per se did not influence the propensity of Cx. restuans to oviposit. Collectively, our results suggest that aquatic habitats that are biologically compromised by deicing agents favor salt-tolerant insects, and that the use of road salts could increase the production of adult mosquitoes that are pests and vectors of disease.

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“…Only a relatively small proportion of this research has focused on freshwater bodies, with the majority centred on amphibian conservation (Latham et al, 1994;Bebee, 1979;Parris, 2006;Hamer and McDonnell, 2008;Hamer and Parris, 2011). To date there has been limited research on the aquatic invertebrates inhabiting garden ponds Monkay and Shine, 2003), in part due to the difficulties of gaining access from householders (Wood et al, 2003). As result there is a pressing need to examine the aquatic invertebrate biodiversity and conservation value of garden ponds (in both urban and sub-urban locations) compared to semi-natural field ponds in rural locations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The macroinvertebrate biodiversity and conservation value of garden and field ponds along a rural-urban gradient

Hill¹,

Wood²

2014

fal

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Additional Information:• This editorial was submitted for publication in the journal, AbstractThe biodiversity and conservation value of semi-natural and field ponds in rural locations are widely acknowledged to be high compared to other freshwater habitats.However, the wider value of urban ponds, and especially garden ponds, has been largely neglected in comparison. This study examines the biodiversity and conservation value of aquatic macroinvertebrates in ponds along an urban-rural continuum over three seasons. Macroinvertebrate faunal richness and diversity of garden ponds (in both urban and sub-urban locations) was markedly lower than that associated with field ponds. The fauna recorded in garden ponds were largely a subset of the taxa recorded in the wider landscape. A total of 146 taxa were recorded from the 26 ponds examined (135 taxa from field ponds and 44 taxa from garden ponds); although only 10 taxa were unique to garden ponds. Garden ponds were frequently managed (macrophytes removed or sediment dredged) and contained artificial fountains or flowing water features which allowed a number of flowing water (lotic) taxa to colonise and persist. Despite the relatively limited faunal diversity and reduced conservation value of garden ponds they have the potential to serve as refugia for some taxa, especially Odonata with highly mobile adults. At the landscape scale, garden ponds potentially provide a diverse and abundant range of freshwater habitats that could play an important role in conserving macroinvertebrate biodiversity. However, for this to be achieved there is a need to provide guidance to home-owners on how this potentially valuable resource can help support freshwater biodiversity.

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Biological warfare in the garden pond: tadpoles suppress the growth of mosquito larvae

Cited by 30 publications

References 26 publications

Temperature modulates the effects of predation and competition on mosquito larvae

Temperature modulates the effects of predation and competition on mosquito larvae

Effects of road salts on the composition of seasonal pond communities: can the use of road salts enhance mosquito recruitment?

The macroinvertebrate biodiversity and conservation value of garden and field ponds along a rural-urban gradient

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