Evidence of Wing Shape Sexual Dimorphism in Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus in Mallorca, Spain
The Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus (Skuse, 1894) is a highly invasive species widely distributed on the Spanish Mediterranean coast and the Balearic archipelago. Most studies involving this species in Spain have been focused on surveillance and control methods. However, micro-evolutionary stu...
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| Format: | Article |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2021.569034/full |
| _version_ | 1818643012796809216 |
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| author | Júlia López-Mercadal André Barretto Bruno Wilke Carlos Barceló Miguel Angel Miranda |
| author_facet | Júlia López-Mercadal André Barretto Bruno Wilke Carlos Barceló Miguel Angel Miranda |
| author_sort | Júlia López-Mercadal |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus (Skuse, 1894) is a highly invasive species widely distributed on the Spanish Mediterranean coast and the Balearic archipelago. Most studies involving this species in Spain have been focused on surveillance and control methods. However, micro-evolutionary studies for Ae. albopictus in Spain have been traditionally neglected. Morphological diversity could be the result of long-term evolutionary diversification in responses to selective pressures such as temperature, precipitation, food availability, predation, or competition that may influence flight activity, host-seeking, and blood-feeding behavior. Wing geometric morphometric have been used not only to study micro- and macro-evolution in mosquitoes but also in studies of population structuring and sexual dimorphism. Therefore, the main goal of this study was to investigate the wing shape patterns of Ae. albopictus populations to unveil sexual dimorphism that could provide information about their ecology and behavior. Mosquito eggs were collected using oviposition traps at the main campus of the University of the Balearic Islands (Palma de Mallorca, Spain) and reared under laboratory conditions. In order to study wing shape variation patterns in Ae. albopictus males and females, the left wing of each adult mosquito was removed and analyzed based on 18 landmarks. Our results indicated strong levels of sexual dimorphism between Ae. albopictus males and females. Furthermore, according to the cross-validated reclassification test, males were correctly distinguished from females with an accuracy of 84% and females from males 75%. We observed a significant sexual dimorphism in the wing shape patterns of Ae. albopictus when considering different seasonal patterns (spring vs. autumn). Our results suggested that selective pressures may affect males differently to females. Host-seeking, blood-feeding, and oviposition behavior of females may act as a major driver for wing shape sexual dimorphism. These results should be considered for the development of more effective and targeted mosquito control strategies. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-16T23:52:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-3608776961aa4a5ba860dd3a9ebf6a05 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-701X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-16T23:52:11Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution |
| spelling | doaj.art-3608776961aa4a5ba860dd3a9ebf6a052022-12-21T22:11:18ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution2296-701X2021-06-01910.3389/fevo.2021.569034569034Evidence of Wing Shape Sexual Dimorphism in Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus in Mallorca, SpainJúlia López-Mercadal0André Barretto Bruno Wilke1Carlos Barceló2Miguel Angel Miranda3Applied Zoology and Animal Conservation, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma de Mallorca, SpainDepartment of Public Health Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL, United StatesApplied Zoology and Animal Conservation, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma de Mallorca, SpainApplied Zoology and Animal Conservation, University of the Balearic Islands, Palma de Mallorca, SpainThe Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus (Skuse, 1894) is a highly invasive species widely distributed on the Spanish Mediterranean coast and the Balearic archipelago. Most studies involving this species in Spain have been focused on surveillance and control methods. However, micro-evolutionary studies for Ae. albopictus in Spain have been traditionally neglected. Morphological diversity could be the result of long-term evolutionary diversification in responses to selective pressures such as temperature, precipitation, food availability, predation, or competition that may influence flight activity, host-seeking, and blood-feeding behavior. Wing geometric morphometric have been used not only to study micro- and macro-evolution in mosquitoes but also in studies of population structuring and sexual dimorphism. Therefore, the main goal of this study was to investigate the wing shape patterns of Ae. albopictus populations to unveil sexual dimorphism that could provide information about their ecology and behavior. Mosquito eggs were collected using oviposition traps at the main campus of the University of the Balearic Islands (Palma de Mallorca, Spain) and reared under laboratory conditions. In order to study wing shape variation patterns in Ae. albopictus males and females, the left wing of each adult mosquito was removed and analyzed based on 18 landmarks. Our results indicated strong levels of sexual dimorphism between Ae. albopictus males and females. Furthermore, according to the cross-validated reclassification test, males were correctly distinguished from females with an accuracy of 84% and females from males 75%. We observed a significant sexual dimorphism in the wing shape patterns of Ae. albopictus when considering different seasonal patterns (spring vs. autumn). Our results suggested that selective pressures may affect males differently to females. Host-seeking, blood-feeding, and oviposition behavior of females may act as a major driver for wing shape sexual dimorphism. These results should be considered for the development of more effective and targeted mosquito control strategies.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2021.569034/fullAedes albopictussexual dimorphismwing shapehost-seekingmosquito |
| spellingShingle | Júlia López-Mercadal André Barretto Bruno Wilke Carlos Barceló Miguel Angel Miranda Evidence of Wing Shape Sexual Dimorphism in Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus in Mallorca, Spain Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution Aedes albopictus sexual dimorphism wing shape host-seeking mosquito |
| title | Evidence of Wing Shape Sexual Dimorphism in Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus in Mallorca, Spain |
| title_full | Evidence of Wing Shape Sexual Dimorphism in Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus in Mallorca, Spain |
| title_fullStr | Evidence of Wing Shape Sexual Dimorphism in Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus in Mallorca, Spain |
| title_full_unstemmed | Evidence of Wing Shape Sexual Dimorphism in Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus in Mallorca, Spain |
| title_short | Evidence of Wing Shape Sexual Dimorphism in Aedes (Stegomyia) albopictus in Mallorca, Spain |
| title_sort | evidence of wing shape sexual dimorphism in aedes stegomyia albopictus in mallorca spain |
| topic | Aedes albopictus sexual dimorphism wing shape host-seeking mosquito |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fevo.2021.569034/full |
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