Effects of ultraviolet radiation on metabolic rate and fitness of Aedes albopictus and Culex pipiens mosquitoes

Abstract

Environmental changes will alter many environmental factors in the coming years including temperature, precipitation, humidity, and the amount of solar radiation reaching the earth’s surface, which in turn will have an impact on living organisms like invertebrates. In this study, we assessed the effect of UV-B radiation upon the metabolic rate and upon three fitness parameters (survival, development time, and body size) of the mosquitoes Aedes albopictus and Culex pipiens, and upon the production of microbial resources on which mosquito larvae feed in aquatic microcosms. We set up three UV-B radiation treatments mimicking levels typically measured in full-sun (FS) and shade (S) conditions, as well as a control group with no UV-B radiation (NUV). The metabolic rate expressed as heat production (µwatts/ml) for larvae and microbial community was measured at days 1, 8, and 15. Our results indicated that UV-B radiation affected the metabolic rate of both Cx. pipiens and Ae. albopictus larvae; metabolic rates were significantly higher in full-sun (FS) compared to shade (S) and no-UV condition (NUV), at days 8 and 15 compared to day 1 (Figures 1A and 1B). Culex pipiens metabolic rates were significantly higher than Ae. albopictus at day 15 compared to days 1 and 8 (Figure 1B). Metabolic rates were significantly lower in microbial communities from vials with Ae. albopictus larvae, Cx. pipiens larvae, and no larvae in FS conditions compared to vials from S and NUV conditions, especially at day 8 (Figure 2A and 2B). There was a major effect of UV-B conditions only on the survival of Ae. albopictus and Cx. pipiens mosquitoes, with significantly lower survival in FS compared to S and NUV conditions. UV-B radiation at levels found in aquatic environments in open fields showed a negative impact on the metabolic rate of Ae. albopictus and Cx. pipiens larvae and on the microbial communities on which they feed. These negative impacts could have important implications for the distribution and abundance of these mosquitoes and for the transmission rate of illness caused by the pathogens that these two broadly distributed mosquitoes transmit.

Prediction of survival ratios of Cadra cautella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) different life stages after treated with ultraviolet radiation in dates

“…For example, in T. castaneum , UV irradiation influences its metamorphosis through disturbance of the PTTH hormone; thus, the production of ecdysone is inhibited (Wen et al, 2016). Additionally, in mosquitoes, UV-B affected the survival and metabolic rates in Culex pipiens and Aedes albopictus larvae (Villena et al, 2018).…”

Effects of ultraviolet radiation onCulex quinquefasciatusimmature stages

“…Villena et al . (2018) demonstrated that UVB radiation increased the metabolic rate of Cx. pipiens and Ae.…”

“…Villena et al . (2018) studied the effect of UV on the metabolic rates and fitness of Ae. albopictus and Cx.…”

Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the Potential Antioxidant Defense Mechanisms of Myzus persicae in Response to UV-B Stress

“…Numerous studies illustrated that UV-B radiation has a wide range of effects on the growth, physiology, biochemistry, and population structure of organisms, and organisms can adopt both protection and repair strategies to adapt to UV-B stress [5,6]. As an environmental stress factor, UV-B can cause oxidative stress and genetic mutations, leading to death of insects [7][8][9][10]. However, the molecular mechanisms by which 3 insects adapt to UV-B stress are unclear.…”