The role of temperature in shaping Culex acharistus mosquitoes life history traits in its southern limit of distribution (Patagonia-Argentina)

There is substantial evidence showing that temperature have a great impact on insects behavior, phenology and life histories. Because of mosquito global importance as disease vectors, in temperate regions where climatic conditions could be only borderline suitable for mosquito development, there is...

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Main Authors: M.G. Grech, M.L. Miserendino, W.R. Almirón
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2023-02-01
Series:Heliyon
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023009039
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author M.G. Grech
M.L. Miserendino
W.R. Almirón
author_facet M.G. Grech
M.L. Miserendino
W.R. Almirón
author_sort M.G. Grech
collection DOAJ
description There is substantial evidence showing that temperature have a great impact on insects behavior, phenology and life histories. Because of mosquito global importance as disease vectors, in temperate regions where climatic conditions could be only borderline suitable for mosquito development, there is a growing interest in understanding the effect of temperature shifts on vital statistics to more accurately define how such changes could impact distribution and abundance patterns, as well as disease transmission cycles. We determined the role of ambient temperature under fluctuating conditions in shaping Culex acharistus (Diptera: Culicidae) life history traits, and estimated its development threshold and physiological time, in its southern limit of distribution in the Argentine Patagonia region. Four horizontal life tables were conducted under natural fluctuating temperature range in Esquel city (42°S – 71°W; 563 m a.s.l.), during spring-summer (17°C), summer (15.4°C), summer-autumn (12.7°C) and autumn-winter (5.6°C) seasons. Larvae, pupae and adult traits were recorded. The mean duration of the experiments varied between 28 to ≅100 days for spring-summer and autumn-winter seasons. Only during the cold season experiment pupae experienced the most severe temperatures and freeze-thaw cycles, and failed to reach adult stage. We found that larva and pupa development time, adult emergence time and longevity significantly increased with decreasing temperatures, while larval survival was greatest at an intermediate temperature and decreased toward low and high values. Also, protandry was observed and males emerge 2 days before females across seasons. Temperature development threshold and physiological time estimated for larva + pupa were 5.98°C and 211.24°C-days. Our study contributes to a growing body of knowledge by examining the effect of seasonal changes in temperature on mosquito life history traits. Results obtained here can be applied as useful parameters in the development of population dynamic models, improving current mosquito control strategies in cold-temperate regions.
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spelling doaj.art-1e189249121a47ec84fcdd3b822560a72023-03-02T05:02:32ZengElsevierHeliyon2405-84402023-02-0192e13696The role of temperature in shaping Culex acharistus mosquitoes life history traits in its southern limit of distribution (Patagonia-Argentina)M.G. Grech0M.L. Miserendino1W.R. Almirón2Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica (CIEMEP), CONICET and Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco, Esquel, Chubut, Argentina; Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco, Sede Esquel, Esquel, Chubut, Argentina; Corresponding author. Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica (CIEMEP), CONICET and Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco. Esquel, Chubut, Argentina.Centro de Investigación Esquel de Montaña y Estepa Patagónica (CIEMEP), CONICET and Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco, Esquel, Chubut, Argentina; Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco, Sede Esquel, Esquel, Chubut, ArgentinaUniversidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Centro de Investigaciones Entomológicas de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina; Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, CONICET, Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas (IIBYT), Córdoba, ArgentinaThere is substantial evidence showing that temperature have a great impact on insects behavior, phenology and life histories. Because of mosquito global importance as disease vectors, in temperate regions where climatic conditions could be only borderline suitable for mosquito development, there is a growing interest in understanding the effect of temperature shifts on vital statistics to more accurately define how such changes could impact distribution and abundance patterns, as well as disease transmission cycles. We determined the role of ambient temperature under fluctuating conditions in shaping Culex acharistus (Diptera: Culicidae) life history traits, and estimated its development threshold and physiological time, in its southern limit of distribution in the Argentine Patagonia region. Four horizontal life tables were conducted under natural fluctuating temperature range in Esquel city (42°S – 71°W; 563 m a.s.l.), during spring-summer (17°C), summer (15.4°C), summer-autumn (12.7°C) and autumn-winter (5.6°C) seasons. Larvae, pupae and adult traits were recorded. The mean duration of the experiments varied between 28 to ≅100 days for spring-summer and autumn-winter seasons. Only during the cold season experiment pupae experienced the most severe temperatures and freeze-thaw cycles, and failed to reach adult stage. We found that larva and pupa development time, adult emergence time and longevity significantly increased with decreasing temperatures, while larval survival was greatest at an intermediate temperature and decreased toward low and high values. Also, protandry was observed and males emerge 2 days before females across seasons. Temperature development threshold and physiological time estimated for larva + pupa were 5.98°C and 211.24°C-days. Our study contributes to a growing body of knowledge by examining the effect of seasonal changes in temperature on mosquito life history traits. Results obtained here can be applied as useful parameters in the development of population dynamic models, improving current mosquito control strategies in cold-temperate regions.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023009039Temperature development thresholdPhysiological timeNatural fluctuating temperatureVital statisticsTemperate region
spellingShingle M.G. Grech
M.L. Miserendino
W.R. Almirón
The role of temperature in shaping Culex acharistus mosquitoes life history traits in its southern limit of distribution (Patagonia-Argentina)
Heliyon
Temperature development threshold
Physiological time
Natural fluctuating temperature
Vital statistics
Temperate region
title The role of temperature in shaping Culex acharistus mosquitoes life history traits in its southern limit of distribution (Patagonia-Argentina)
title_full The role of temperature in shaping Culex acharistus mosquitoes life history traits in its southern limit of distribution (Patagonia-Argentina)
title_fullStr The role of temperature in shaping Culex acharistus mosquitoes life history traits in its southern limit of distribution (Patagonia-Argentina)
title_full_unstemmed The role of temperature in shaping Culex acharistus mosquitoes life history traits in its southern limit of distribution (Patagonia-Argentina)
title_short The role of temperature in shaping Culex acharistus mosquitoes life history traits in its southern limit of distribution (Patagonia-Argentina)
title_sort role of temperature in shaping culex acharistus mosquitoes life history traits in its southern limit of distribution patagonia argentina
topic Temperature development threshold
Physiological time
Natural fluctuating temperature
Vital statistics
Temperate region
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023009039
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