Egg hatching, larval movement and larval survival of the malaria vector <it>Anopheles gambiae </it>in desiccating habitats
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Although the effects of rainfall on the population dynamics of the malaria vector <it>Anopheles gambiae </it>have been studied in great detail, the effects of dry periods on its survival remain less clear.</p> <p...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2003-07-01
|
| Series: | Malaria Journal |
| Online Access: | http://www.malariajournal.com/content/2/1/20 |
| _version_ | 1818919333406965760 |
|---|---|
| author | Knols Bart GJ Githeko Andrew K Paaijmans Krijn P Koenraadt Constantianus Takken Willem |
| author_facet | Knols Bart GJ Githeko Andrew K Paaijmans Krijn P Koenraadt Constantianus Takken Willem |
| author_sort | Knols Bart GJ |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Although the effects of rainfall on the population dynamics of the malaria vector <it>Anopheles gambiae </it>have been studied in great detail, the effects of dry periods on its survival remain less clear.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The effects of drying conditions were simulated by creating desiccated habitats, which consisted of trays filled with damp soil. Experiments were performed in these trays to (i) test the ability of <it>An. gambiae sensu stricto </it>eggs to hatch on damp soil and for larvae to reach an artificial breeding site at different distances of the site of hatching and (ii) to record survival of the four larval stages of <it>An. gambiae s.s. </it>when placed on damp soil.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Eggs of <it>An. gambiae s.s. </it>hatched on damp soil and emerging larvae were capable of covering a distance of up to 10 cm to reach surface water enabling further development. However, proportions of larvae reaching the site decreased rapidly with increasing distance. First, second and third-instar larvae survived on damp soil for an estimated period of 64, 65 and 69 hrs, respectively. Fourth-instar larvae survived significantly longer and we estimated that the maximum survival time was 113 hrs.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Short-term survival of aquatic stages of <it>An. gambiae </it>on wet soil may be important and adaptive when considering the transient nature of breeding sites of this species in sub-Saharan Africa. In addition, the results suggest that, for larval vector control methods to be effective, habitats should remain drained for at least 5 days to kill all larvae (e.g. in rice fields) and habitats that recently dried up should be treated as well, if larvicidal agents are applied.</p> |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-20T01:04:11Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ddbf7a1ed495469fa8a9ed6adf6c8208 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1475-2875 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-20T01:04:11Z |
| publishDate | 2003-07-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Malaria Journal |
| spelling | doaj.art-ddbf7a1ed495469fa8a9ed6adf6c82082022-12-21T19:58:55ZengBMCMalaria Journal1475-28752003-07-01212010.1186/1475-2875-2-20Egg hatching, larval movement and larval survival of the malaria vector <it>Anopheles gambiae </it>in desiccating habitatsKnols Bart GJGitheko Andrew KPaaijmans Krijn PKoenraadt ConstantianusTakken Willem<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Although the effects of rainfall on the population dynamics of the malaria vector <it>Anopheles gambiae </it>have been studied in great detail, the effects of dry periods on its survival remain less clear.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The effects of drying conditions were simulated by creating desiccated habitats, which consisted of trays filled with damp soil. Experiments were performed in these trays to (i) test the ability of <it>An. gambiae sensu stricto </it>eggs to hatch on damp soil and for larvae to reach an artificial breeding site at different distances of the site of hatching and (ii) to record survival of the four larval stages of <it>An. gambiae s.s. </it>when placed on damp soil.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Eggs of <it>An. gambiae s.s. </it>hatched on damp soil and emerging larvae were capable of covering a distance of up to 10 cm to reach surface water enabling further development. However, proportions of larvae reaching the site decreased rapidly with increasing distance. First, second and third-instar larvae survived on damp soil for an estimated period of 64, 65 and 69 hrs, respectively. Fourth-instar larvae survived significantly longer and we estimated that the maximum survival time was 113 hrs.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Short-term survival of aquatic stages of <it>An. gambiae </it>on wet soil may be important and adaptive when considering the transient nature of breeding sites of this species in sub-Saharan Africa. In addition, the results suggest that, for larval vector control methods to be effective, habitats should remain drained for at least 5 days to kill all larvae (e.g. in rice fields) and habitats that recently dried up should be treated as well, if larvicidal agents are applied.</p>http://www.malariajournal.com/content/2/1/20 |
| spellingShingle | Knols Bart GJ Githeko Andrew K Paaijmans Krijn P Koenraadt Constantianus Takken Willem Egg hatching, larval movement and larval survival of the malaria vector <it>Anopheles gambiae </it>in desiccating habitats Malaria Journal |
| title | Egg hatching, larval movement and larval survival of the malaria vector <it>Anopheles gambiae </it>in desiccating habitats |
| title_full | Egg hatching, larval movement and larval survival of the malaria vector <it>Anopheles gambiae </it>in desiccating habitats |
| title_fullStr | Egg hatching, larval movement and larval survival of the malaria vector <it>Anopheles gambiae </it>in desiccating habitats |
| title_full_unstemmed | Egg hatching, larval movement and larval survival of the malaria vector <it>Anopheles gambiae </it>in desiccating habitats |
| title_short | Egg hatching, larval movement and larval survival of the malaria vector <it>Anopheles gambiae </it>in desiccating habitats |
| title_sort | egg hatching larval movement and larval survival of the malaria vector it anopheles gambiae it in desiccating habitats |
| url | http://www.malariajournal.com/content/2/1/20 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT knolsbartgj egghatchinglarvalmovementandlarvalsurvivalofthemalariavectoritanophelesgambiaeitindesiccatinghabitats AT githekoandrewk egghatchinglarvalmovementandlarvalsurvivalofthemalariavectoritanophelesgambiaeitindesiccatinghabitats AT paaijmanskrijnp egghatchinglarvalmovementandlarvalsurvivalofthemalariavectoritanophelesgambiaeitindesiccatinghabitats AT koenraadtconstantianus egghatchinglarvalmovementandlarvalsurvivalofthemalariavectoritanophelesgambiaeitindesiccatinghabitats AT takkenwillem egghatchinglarvalmovementandlarvalsurvivalofthemalariavectoritanophelesgambiaeitindesiccatinghabitats |