Larval superiority of Culex pipiens to Aedes albopictus in a replacement series experiment: prospects for coexistence in Germany
Abstract Background The Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus is an extremely invasive, globally distributed and medically important vector of various human and veterinary pathogens. In Germany, where this species was recently introduced, its establishment may become modulated by interspecific compe...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2018-02-01
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| Series: | Parasites & Vectors |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13071-018-2665-3 |
| _version_ | 1828847128298913792 |
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| author | Ruth Müller Timm Knautz Simone Vollroth Robert Berger Aljoscha Kreß Friederike Reuss David A. Groneberg Ulrich Kuch |
| author_facet | Ruth Müller Timm Knautz Simone Vollroth Robert Berger Aljoscha Kreß Friederike Reuss David A. Groneberg Ulrich Kuch |
| author_sort | Ruth Müller |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background The Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus is an extremely invasive, globally distributed and medically important vector of various human and veterinary pathogens. In Germany, where this species was recently introduced, its establishment may become modulated by interspecific competition from autochthonous mosquito species, especially Culex pipiens (s.l.). While competitive superiority of Ae. albopictus to Cx. pipiens (s.l.) has been described elsewhere, it has not been assessed in the epidemiological conditions of Germany. The present study aimed to determine if such superiority exists under the physicochemical and microclimatic conditions typical for container habitats in Germany. Methods In a replacement series experiment, the larval and pupal responses of Ae. albopictus and Cx. pipiens (s.l.) (mortality, development time, growth) to interspecific interaction (five larval ratios) at (sub-)optimal temperatures (15, 20 and 25 °C) and differing food supply (3 and 6 mg animal-based food larva-1) were investigated using a randomized split-plot design. In addition to physicochemical measurements of the test media, natural physicochemical conditions were determined for comparative analyses in mosquito breeding sites across the Rhine-Main metropolitan region of Germany. Results Under the physicochemical and microclimatic conditions similar to the breeding sites of the Rhine-Main region, competitive superiority of Cx. pipiens (s.l.) to Ae. albopictus in terms of larval survival was more frequently observed than balanced coexistence. Food regime and multifactorial interactions, but not temperature alone, were controlling factors for interspecific competition. Larval food regime and the larval ratio of Ae. albopictus influenced the physicochemistry and algal growth at 15 °C, with increased Ae. albopictus mortality linked to a decreasing number of Scenedesmus, Oocystis and Anabaena algae. Conclusions Under the present environmental conditions, the spread of Ae. albopictus from isolated foci in Germany may generally be slowed by biotic interactions with the ubiquitous Cx. pipiens (s.l.) (and potentially other container-breeding mosquito species) and by limnic microalgae in microhabitats with high resource levels. Detailed knowledge of the context dependency in temperate mosquito ecology, and interrelations of physicochemistry and phycology may help to achieve a better understanding of the upcoming Ae. albopictus colonization processes in central and northern Europe. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-12T22:03:12Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b123f34491ec40deaf5af8a2455b5d0c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1756-3305 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-12T22:03:12Z |
| publishDate | 2018-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Parasites & Vectors |
| spelling | doaj.art-b123f34491ec40deaf5af8a2455b5d0c2022-12-22T00:10:28ZengBMCParasites & Vectors1756-33052018-02-0111111610.1186/s13071-018-2665-3Larval superiority of Culex pipiens to Aedes albopictus in a replacement series experiment: prospects for coexistence in GermanyRuth Müller0Timm Knautz1Simone Vollroth2Robert Berger3Aljoscha Kreß4Friederike Reuss5David A. Groneberg6Ulrich Kuch7Goethe University Frankfurt am Main, Institute for Occupational Medicine, Social Medicine and Environmental MedicineGoethe University Frankfurt am Main, Institute of Ecology, Evolution and DiversityGoethe University Frankfurt am Main, Institute of Ecology, Evolution and DiversitySenckenberg Biodiversity and Climate Research CentreGoethe University Frankfurt am Main, Institute for Occupational Medicine, Social Medicine and Environmental MedicineGoethe University Frankfurt am Main, Institute for Occupational Medicine, Social Medicine and Environmental MedicineGoethe University Frankfurt am Main, Institute for Occupational Medicine, Social Medicine and Environmental MedicineGoethe University Frankfurt am Main, Institute for Occupational Medicine, Social Medicine and Environmental MedicineAbstract Background The Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus is an extremely invasive, globally distributed and medically important vector of various human and veterinary pathogens. In Germany, where this species was recently introduced, its establishment may become modulated by interspecific competition from autochthonous mosquito species, especially Culex pipiens (s.l.). While competitive superiority of Ae. albopictus to Cx. pipiens (s.l.) has been described elsewhere, it has not been assessed in the epidemiological conditions of Germany. The present study aimed to determine if such superiority exists under the physicochemical and microclimatic conditions typical for container habitats in Germany. Methods In a replacement series experiment, the larval and pupal responses of Ae. albopictus and Cx. pipiens (s.l.) (mortality, development time, growth) to interspecific interaction (five larval ratios) at (sub-)optimal temperatures (15, 20 and 25 °C) and differing food supply (3 and 6 mg animal-based food larva-1) were investigated using a randomized split-plot design. In addition to physicochemical measurements of the test media, natural physicochemical conditions were determined for comparative analyses in mosquito breeding sites across the Rhine-Main metropolitan region of Germany. Results Under the physicochemical and microclimatic conditions similar to the breeding sites of the Rhine-Main region, competitive superiority of Cx. pipiens (s.l.) to Ae. albopictus in terms of larval survival was more frequently observed than balanced coexistence. Food regime and multifactorial interactions, but not temperature alone, were controlling factors for interspecific competition. Larval food regime and the larval ratio of Ae. albopictus influenced the physicochemistry and algal growth at 15 °C, with increased Ae. albopictus mortality linked to a decreasing number of Scenedesmus, Oocystis and Anabaena algae. Conclusions Under the present environmental conditions, the spread of Ae. albopictus from isolated foci in Germany may generally be slowed by biotic interactions with the ubiquitous Cx. pipiens (s.l.) (and potentially other container-breeding mosquito species) and by limnic microalgae in microhabitats with high resource levels. Detailed knowledge of the context dependency in temperate mosquito ecology, and interrelations of physicochemistry and phycology may help to achieve a better understanding of the upcoming Ae. albopictus colonization processes in central and northern Europe.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13071-018-2665-3MicroalgaeInterspecific competitionNiche differentiationResource competitionWater chemistry |
| spellingShingle | Ruth Müller Timm Knautz Simone Vollroth Robert Berger Aljoscha Kreß Friederike Reuss David A. Groneberg Ulrich Kuch Larval superiority of Culex pipiens to Aedes albopictus in a replacement series experiment: prospects for coexistence in Germany Parasites & Vectors Microalgae Interspecific competition Niche differentiation Resource competition Water chemistry |
| title | Larval superiority of Culex pipiens to Aedes albopictus in a replacement series experiment: prospects for coexistence in Germany |
| title_full | Larval superiority of Culex pipiens to Aedes albopictus in a replacement series experiment: prospects for coexistence in Germany |
| title_fullStr | Larval superiority of Culex pipiens to Aedes albopictus in a replacement series experiment: prospects for coexistence in Germany |
| title_full_unstemmed | Larval superiority of Culex pipiens to Aedes albopictus in a replacement series experiment: prospects for coexistence in Germany |
| title_short | Larval superiority of Culex pipiens to Aedes albopictus in a replacement series experiment: prospects for coexistence in Germany |
| title_sort | larval superiority of culex pipiens to aedes albopictus in a replacement series experiment prospects for coexistence in germany |
| topic | Microalgae Interspecific competition Niche differentiation Resource competition Water chemistry |
| url | http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13071-018-2665-3 |
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