| Abstrakt: |
Recent studies report extensive reductions in the abundance of the North American rock pool mosquito, Aedes atropalpus(Diptera: Culicidae), following the invasion of Ae. japonicus japonicusin the United States. Although developmental temperature is recognized as an important component of the invasion biology of Ae. j. japonicus, its impacts on the population growth and fitness of Ae. atropalpusremain largely undefined. In this study we reared Ae. atropalpuslarvae at three temperature ranges reflecting ecologically important temperatures in natural rock pools: a low temperature range (mean: 19°C) where Ae. j. japonicusis common and Ae. atropalpusis often rare, a middle temperature range (mean: 25°C) where both species are naturally found in similar relative abundances, and a higher temperature range (mean: 31°C) where Ae. atropalpusis the dominant species. We measured survival, development time, wing length, and fecundity to calculate a finite population growth rate at each temperature. Our results indicate that Ae. atropalpuspopulation growth suffers in colder rock pools, which informs the perceived displacement of the species in temperate habitats. The population growth rate was highest in the middle temperature range, but not significantly higher than in the highest temperature range used in this study. The developmental success of Ae. atropalpusat the intermediate temperature range suggests that competition with Ae. j. japonicusin rock pools within that range may significantly impact natural Ae. atropalpuspopulations. |
