Colonization patterns and life-history dynamics of Culex mosquitoes in artificial ponds of different character

Abstract

The relationship between the biology and habitat of larval mosquitoes was studied in a series of artificial ponds of differing characteristics established across a terrestrial vegetation gradient from open fields to deep woods. The ponds were uniformly colonized by two widespread species of Culex, both characteristic of small bodies of water, including artificial, "container" habitats. First-instar larvae of Culex restuans were found within 2 days of filling the ponds with water and four or five generations were produced from May until the end of September. One very long generation occurred in July, which corresponded to maximum larval densities. Overall, there was a strong relationship between larval development time of C. restuans and larval density. A few larvae of Culex pipiens pipiens occurred sporadically throughout the summer, but numbers did not increase until C. restuans populations began to wane in late July. Thereafter two, or possibly three, generations were produced into the autumn. The patterns of colonization, synchrony of life history, and growth of these two species were remarkably consistent amongst the ponds, despite considerable variation in both their physical and biological environments (e.g., over the 2 years of study, conductivity ranged from 20 to 890 μS, pH from 6.4 to 10.7, dissolved oxygen from 0 to 13.5 ppm, and water temperature from 5 to 29.8 °C). Density of C. restuans was related to water temperature and pH at the "open" site and to water temperature, dissolved oxygen, percent algae, and percent detritus at the "edge of the woods" site. At the "deep woods" site, larval numbers were related to temperature, pH, conductivity, and dissolved oxygen. At both the edge and deep wood sites, larval development time of C. restuans increased with mean water temperature to 20 °C. Above this temperature, larval development time tended to decrease.

Planting grass filter strips: Does it influence the structure and function of riparian habitats of agricultural headwater streams?

“…These results are consistent with others [4,8,[37][38][39][40] who documented how changes in riparian structure alters Our results are also consistent with others [13,[41][42][43] who have documented decreased water temperatures within containers or aquatic habitats within forested riparian habitats having greater canopy cover than those within herbaceous riparian habitats. Williams et al [41] documented that containers placed in forested habitats had reduced water temperatures compared to containers placed in open fields in Canada. Nilsson and Svensson [42] found that snowmelt pools within forested regions of Sweden with greater canopy cover were cooler than pools in clear-cut areas with reduced canopy cover.…”

Influence of riparian habitat on aquatic macroinvertebrate community colonization within riparian zones of agricultural headwater streams

“…Greater concentrations of nitrate and nitrite and lower pH occurred within mesocosms within forested lowland swamp habitats than those in urban and pasture habitats in New Zealand (Leisnham et al 2007). Our results and those of Williams et al (1993) and Leisnham et al (2007) suggest that water-filled mesocosms within forested habitats with greater canopy cover and detritus inputs will have different physical and chemical characteristics than those within non-forested habitats with lesser canopy cover and detritus inputs.…”

“…Differences in water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, percent algae, and percent detritus were found between artificial ponds in a large open field versus those in edge habitats transitional between an open field and a mixed hardwood-evergreen forest in Toronto, Canada (Williams et al 1993). Greater concentrations of nitrate and nitrite and lower pH occurred within mesocosms within forested lowland swamp habitats than those in urban and pasture habitats in New Zealand (Leisnham et al 2007).…”

Colonization of Ephemeral Water Bodies in the Wheatbelt of Western Australia by Assemblages of Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae): Role of Environmental Factors, Habitat, and Disturbance

“…For example, the negative relationship between pH and abundance of Ae. camptorhynchus is in contrast to pH and abundance relationships of some other Aedes species (Williams et al 1993, Paradise and Dunson 1997, Honó rio et al 2006. Therefore, targeted management of Ae.…”