Interpopulation divergence in competitive interactions of the mosquitoAedes albopictus

Abstract

Geographic variation in species interactions can have major effects on distributions. Effects of such variation can be particularly evident for invasive species, in which variation in competitive ability can influence invasive success and impacts. We tested the hypothesis that coexistence or exclusion of the resident mosquito Aedes aegypti results from variation among local populations of the invasive Aedes albopictus in competitive interactions with A. aegypti. We also examined the role of variation in fecundity-size relationship in these competitive interactions. We compared competitive abilities of nine North American populations of A. albopictus, three populations from each of three site types: extinction of A. aegypti following A. albopictus invasion, coexistence following A. albopictus invasion, and A. albopictus allopatric to A. aegypti. Competition among larvae from each A. albopictus population and a single A. aegypti population was tested in laboratory microcosms in a response-surface design. We found interpopulation differences in competitive ability of A. albopictus, but no strong patterns among site types. Extinction sites had steeper average fecundity-size relationships than coexistence sites and allopatric sites, but this did not translate into superior population performance. Certain individual A. albopictus populations had exceptionally large competitive effects on A. aegypti or poor competitive responses to competition from A. aegypti, but competitive effect and response were not correlated. These results suggest that interpopulation variation in the competitive ability of A. albopictus may only partly explain geographic pattern of coexistence with or extinction of A. aegypti. Environmental differences among regions may affect the competitive ability of A. albopictus and influence its invasion success and impact.

A Tale of Two City Blocks: Differences in Immature and Adult Mosquito Abundances between Socioeconomically Different Urban Blocks in Baltimore (Maryland, USA)

“…Higher temperatures can increase immature development rate [85,86], although heat can also directly reduce persistence of aquatic container habitat [85]. Numerous studies have shown that numbers of water-filled containers and larval mosquitoes are both less abundant in dry conditions [73,87,88]. Thus, extreme heat may reduce adult mosquito production in urban areas where disused containers are the predominant habitat for immature development.…”

Evolution of resistance to satyrization through reproductive character displacement in populations of invasive dengue vectors

“…Satyrization may suppress A. aegypti populations, whereas the development of resistance to satyrization may allow recovery. In combination with other biotic and abiotic factors (47,48), this interplay could account for the observed patchy distributions of these two species where they encounter one another (e.g., refs. 49 and 50).…”

Interspecific Larval Competition Between Invasive Aedes japonicus and Native Aedes triseriatus (Diptera: Culicidae) and Adult Longevity

“…japonicus and Ae. triseriatus is sustained under different environmental conditions (e.g., resource type, temperature, predation) and geographic populations (Leisnham et al 2009). In eastern United States, Ae.…”