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The Roles of Predators, Competitors, and Secondary Salinization in Structuring Mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) Assemblages in Ephemeral Water Bodies of the Wheatbelt of Western Australia
Citation
Carver, SS and Spafford, H and Storey, A and Weinstein, P, The Roles of Predators, Competitors, and Secondary Salinization in Structuring Mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) Assemblages in Ephemeral Water Bodies of the Wheatbelt of Western Australia, Environmental entomology, 39, (3) pp. 798-810. ISSN 0046-225X (2010) [Refereed Article]
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Copyright Statement
Copyright 2010 Entomological Society of America
DOI: doi:10.1603/EN09235
Abstract
Studies that consider both biotic and abiotic determinants of organisms are rare, but
critical to delineate underlying determinants of community richness (number of taxa) and abundance
(number of larvae per water body). In this study, we consider the importance of disturbance (salinity)
and predator and competitor variables on mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae) in small ephemeral water
bodies across the Wheatbelt of Western Australia. Similar to mosquitoes, and contrary to general
perceptions, nonculicid aquatic fauna (aquatic fauna) had a common occurrence (number or percentage
of water bodies occupied) and were abundant (average density) in ephemeral water bodies,
albeit with a simpliŞed trophic structure. The occurrence and density (number per unit area) of
aquatic fauna between water bodies were highly variable, but general relationships of aquatic fauna
with rainfall, water body surface area, salinity, and mosquitoes were apparent. In contrast to mosquitoes,
the density of aquatic fauna declined with recent rainfall, implying mosquitoes may colonize
newly created water bodies more quickly than aquatic fauna. Assemblages (richness and density of
taxa) of aquatic fauna changed along a salinity gradient, as did mosquitoes, and this was pronounced
for predator groups. Densities of mosquitoes were not limited by any single taxonomic group, by a
negative relationship. However, the density and richness of mosquitoes generally declined in association
with increased richness of predators and density of all other taxa (taxa not speciŞcally classiŞed
as predators or competitors of mosquitoes). These relationships may account for higher densities of
mosquitoes in smaller water bodies, where richness of predators is reduced and the density of other
taxa does not differ from larger water bodies. Our results also suggest salinity in the Western Australia
Wheatbelt may facilitate greater abundance of halotolerant mosquitoes, Aedes alboannulatus Macquart
and Aedes camptorhynchus Thomson (a vector of Ross River virus [Togoviridae: Alphavirus]),
by releasing them from biotic regulation.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
---|---|
Research Division: | Biological Sciences |
Research Group: | Ecology |
Research Field: | Community ecology (excl. invasive species ecology) |
Objective Division: | Environmental Management |
Objective Group: | Terrestrial systems and management |
Objective Field: | Assessment and management of terrestrial ecosystems |
UTAS Author: | Carver, SS (Dr Scott Carver) |
ID Code: | 80286 |
Year Published: | 2010 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 13 |
Deposited By: | Zoology |
Deposited On: | 2012-10-26 |
Last Modified: | 2012-11-12 |
Downloads: | 2 View Download Statistics |
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