In a warmer Arctic, mosquitoes avoid increased mortality from predators by growing faster

Abstract

Climate change is altering environmental temperature, a factor that influences ectothermic organisms by controlling rates of physiological processes. Demographic effects of warming, however, are determined by the expression of these physiological effects through predator -prey and other species interactions. Using field observations and controlled experiments, we measured how increasing temperatures in the Arctic affected development rates and mortality rates (from predation) of immature Arctic mosquitoes in western Greenland. We then developed and parametrized a demographic model to evaluate how temperature affects survival of mosquitoes from the immature to the adult stage. Our studies showed that warming increased development rate of immature mosquitoes (Q 10 ¼ 2.8) but also increased daily mortality from increased predation rates by a dytiscid beetle (Q 10 ¼ 1.2 -1.5). Despite increased daily mortality, the model indicated that faster development and fewer days exposed to predators resulted in an increased probability of mosquito survival to the adult stage. Warming also advanced mosquito phenology, bringing mosquitoes into phenological synchrony with caribou. Increases in biting pests will have negative consequences for caribou and their role as a subsistence resource for local communities. Generalizable frameworks that account for multiple effects of temperature are needed to understand how climate change impacts coupled human -natural systems.

Investigating the feasibility and the limits of high rate anaerobic winery wastewater treatment using a hybrid-EGSB bio-reactor

“…Previous studies showed that acclimation to low temperatures forms microbial communities that are not only sturdier but also perform better when at warmer temperatures compared to those that were originally acclimatized to the warmer ones (Petropoulos et al, 2013;Petropoulos, 2015;Nozhevnikova et al, 2007). Culler et al (2015) also described a similar phenomenon in nature in which coldadapted mosquitoes avoid increased mortality from predators when in warmer climates by having faster metabolic rates resulting in faster growth-or in other words more efficient intestinal microflora. After acclimation the sludge concentration was increased by 100% and 350% (days 100 and 175, respectively) to promote treatment efficiency without limiting mass transfer.…”

Spatial heterogeneity in the abundance and fecundity of Arctic mosquitoes

“…The only mosquito species in our study area is Aedes nigripes Zett. Immature A. nigripes hatch from eggs and develop in shallow temporary ponds during May and June (Culler et al 2015). Immature A. nigripes hatch from eggs and develop in shallow temporary ponds during May and June (Culler et al 2015).…”

“…Our previous study indicated immature survival probabilities ranging from 0.01 to 0.40 among ponds in 2011 and 2012 (Appendix S1: Table S2; Culler et al 2015). We varied probability(adult t+1 |egg) from 0 to 1 to account for variation in survival rates from the egg through the adult stage.…”

Tundra arthropods provide key insights into ecological responses to environmental change

“…The study of tundra arthropods in the context of rapid environmental change has indeed yielded insights into general patterns of ecological change Culler et al 2015). Tundra arthropods exhibit significant phenological responses to these changes (Høye and Forchhammer 2008;Tulp and Schekkerman 2008;Høye et al 2014).…”