scholarly journals Comparative account of energy reserves in four co-occurring mosquito species in Kolkata, India (Diptera: Culicidae)

2017 ◽  
Vol 86 (1) ◽  
pp. 49-67
Author(s):  
Sushree Mohan ◽  
Sampa Banerjee ◽  
Soujita Pramanik ◽  
Soumyajit Banerjee ◽  
Goutam K. Saha ◽  
...  

AbstractEnergy reserves in mosquitoes are an indicator of fitness, linking larval effort in resource acquisition with adult survival and fecundity. In other words, life history strategies and disease transmission potential can be related to the amount of energy reserves. The energy reserves of four mosquitoes –Aedes aegypti, Aedes albopictus, Armigeres subalbatusandCulex quinquefasciatus(Diptera: Culicidae) – were calculated to justify species-specific differences in their life history strategies. Following repeated sampling of pupae from the respective larval habitats, the glycogen, sugar and lipid contents of individual mosquitoes were assessed and corroborated with pupal weight and adult wing length. Discriminant function analysis was used to acquire an initial reflection of the differences of the parameters among the sex and species of the mosquitoes considered in the study. Using logistic regression and ANOVA, the effects of species and sex as contributors to variations in energy reserves could be established. The results indicated that for all the mosquitoes, sex-specific differences were prominent with reference to the energy reserves. Species-specific differences in energy reserves reflect differences in resource acquisition and assimilation in the tissues, and thus the differences in the life history strategies of these four species.

2010 ◽  
Vol 277 (1697) ◽  
pp. 3203-3212 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michaela Hau ◽  
Robert E. Ricklefs ◽  
Martin Wikelski ◽  
Kelly A. Lee ◽  
Jeffrey D. Brawn

Steroid hormones have similar functions across vertebrates, but circulating concentrations can vary dramatically among species. We examined the hypothesis that variation in titres of corticosterone (Cort) and testosterone (T) is related to life-history traits of avian species. We predicted that Cort would reach higher levels under stress in species with higher annual adult survival rates since Cort is thought to promote physiological and behavioural responses that reduce risk to the individual. Conversely, we predicted that peak T during the breeding season would be higher in short-lived species with high mating effort as this hormone is known to promote male fecundity traits. We quantified circulating hormone concentrations and key life-history traits (annual adult survival rate, breeding season length, body mass) in males of free-living bird species during the breeding season at a temperate site (northern USA) and a tropical site (central Panama). We analysed our original data by themselves, and also combined with published data on passerine birds to enhance sample size. In both approaches, variation in baseline Cort (Cort0) among species was inversely related to breeding season length and body mass. Stress-induced corticosterone (MaxCort) also varied inversely with body mass and, as predicted, also varied positively with annual adult survival rates. Furthermore, species from drier and colder environments exhibited lower MaxCort than mesic and tropical species; T was lowest in species from tropical environments. These findings suggest that Cort0, MaxCort and T modulate key vertebrate life-history responses to the environment, with Cort0 supporting energetically demanding processes, MaxCort promoting survival and T being related to mating success.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Corey Thomas Callaghan ◽  
Diana Bowler ◽  
Henrique Pereira

Urban expansion poses a serious threat to biodiversity. Given that the expected area of urban land cover is predicted to increase by 2-3 million km2 by 2050, urban environments are one of the most widespread human-dominated land-uses affecting biodiversity. Responses to urbanization differ greatly among species. Some species are unable to tolerate urban environments (i.e., urban avoiders), others are able to adapt and use areas with moderate levels of urbanization (i.e., urban adapters), and yet others are able to colonize and even thrive in urban environments (i.e., urban exploiters). Quantifying species-specific responses to urbanization remains an important goal, but our current understanding of urban tolerance is heavily biased towards traditionally well-studied taxa (e.g., mammals and birds). We integrated a continuous measure of urbanization — VIIRS night-time lights — with over 900,000 species’ observations from GBIF to derive a comprehensive analysis of species-specific (N=158 species) responses of butterflies to urbanization across Europe. The majority of butterfly species included in our analysis avoided urban areas, regardless of whether species’ urban tolerances were quantified as a mean score of urban tolerance across all occurrences (79%) or as a species’ response curve to the whole urbanization gradient (55%). We then used the species-specific responses to urbanization to assess which life history strategies promote urban tolerance in butterflies. These trait-based analyses found strong evidence that the average number of flight months, likely associated with thermal niche breath, and number of adult food types were positively associated with urban tolerance, while hostplant specialism was negatively associated with urban tolerance. Overall, our results demonstrate that specialist butterflies, both in terms of thermal and diet preferences, are most at risk from increasing urbanization, and should thus be considered in urban planning and prioritized for conservation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arnaud G. Barras ◽  
Sébastien Blache ◽  
Michael Schaub ◽  
Raphaël Arlettaz

Species- and population-specific responses to their environment may depend to a large extent on the spatial variation in life-history traits and in demographic processes of local population dynamics. Yet, those parameters and their variability remain largely unknown for many cold-adapted species, which are exposed to particularly rapid rates of environmental change. Here, we compared the demographic traits and dynamics for an emblematic bird species of European mountain ecosystems, the ring ouzel (Turdus torquatus). Using integrated population models fitted in a Bayesian framework, we estimated the survival probability, productivity and immigration of two populations from the Western European Alps, in France (over 11 years) and Switzerland (over 6 years). Juvenile apparent survival was lower and immigration rate higher in the Swiss compared to the French population, with the temporal variation in population growth rate driven by different demographic processes. Yet, when compared to populations in the northwestern part of the range, in Scotland, these two Alpine populations both showed a much lower productivity and higher adult survival, indicating a slower life-history strategy. Our results suggest that demographic characteristics can substantially vary across the discontinuous range of this passerine species, essentially due to contrasted, possibly locally evolved life-history strategies. This study therefore raises the question of whether flexibility in life-history traits is widespread among boreo-alpine species and if it might provide adaptive potential for coping with current environmental change.


Gerontology ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 63 (5) ◽  
pp. 432-434 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Vijg ◽  
Eric Le Bourg

There is a long-lasting debate about a natural limit to human life span, and it has been argued that the maximum reported age at death, which has not increased for ca 25 years, fluctuates around 115 years, even if some persons live beyond this age. We argue that the close connection of species-specific longevity with life history strategies explains why human life span is limited and cannot reach the considerably longer life spans of several other species.


1981 ◽  
Vol 38 (7) ◽  
pp. 806-820 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. D. Glebe ◽  
W. C. Leggett

We studied the relationships between tissue dynamics and bioenergetics of the anadromous American shad (Alosa sapidissima) homing to the St. Johns (Fla.), York (Va.), and Connecticut (Conn.) Rivers and the life history characteristics of these populations. Shad in the three populations studied differed in the degree of development of the gonads at river entry, in the absolute and relative energy allocation to reproductive products vs. migration, and in the extent of total energy depletion during the migration. St. Johns River fish consumed 70–80% of their total energy reserves to reach the spawning grounds and spawn. In this population all shad die following spawning. York River shad consumed ~30% and Connecticut River shad 40–60% of their energy reserves to migrate to the spawning grounds, spawn, and return to the sea. In these populations 25 and 35%, respectively, of the spawning adults survive to spawn again. The principal determinants of energy use were migration distance and river gradient. We rejected the hypothesis that the latitudinal cline in adult survival results from differences in energy use during migration. We concluded that interpopulation differences in energy allocation to migration vs. reproduction are a consequence, rather than a cause, of the different life history strategies exhibited by populations of shad over its Atlantic Coast range. A similar pattern is apparent in other anadromous species: obligate semelparous species use > 70% of their energy reserves to reach the spawning areas and spawn; iteroparous species allocate more energy to postreproductive reserves at the expense of reproductive products thereby ensuring a successful return migration to the sea. Freshwater swimming speeds also appear to differ in a consistent way between semelparous and iteroparous species. Semelparous species swim at close to maximum sustained speed thereby minimizing the duration of the migration. Iteroparous species swim at speeds yielding near optimum energy efficiency (J∙kg−1∙km−1) thereby minimizing the energy cost of migraiton.Key words: American shad, (Alosa sapidissima); migration, bioenergetics, life history tactics, latitudinal clines, swimming speeds, energy allocation, anadromy


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eloise B Stephenson ◽  
Amanda Murphy ◽  
Cassie C Jansen ◽  
Alison J Peel ◽  
Hamish McCallum

Mosquito-borne pathogens contribute significantly to the global burden of disease, infecting millions of people each year. Mosquito feeding is critical to the transmission dynamics of pathogens, and thus it is important to understanding and interpreting mosquito feeding patterns. In this paper we explore mosquito feeding patterns and their implications for disease ecology through a meta-analysis of published blood meal results collected across Australia from more than 12,000 blood meals from 22 species. To assess mosquito-vertebrate associations and identify mosquitoes on a spectrum of generalist or specialist feeders, we analysed blood meal data in two ways; first using a novel odds ratio analysis, and secondly by calculating Shannon diversity scores. We find that each mosquito species had a unique feeding association with different vertebrates, suggesting species-specific feeding patterns. Broadly, mosquito species could be grouped broadly into those that were primarily ornithophilic and those that fed more often on livestock. Aggregated feeding patterns observed across Australia were not explained by intrinsic variables such as mosquito genetics or larval habitats. We discuss the implications for disease transmission by vector mosquito species classified as generalist-feeders (such as Aedes vigilax and Culex annulirostris), or specialists (such as Aedes aegypti) in light of potential influences on mosquito host choice. Overall, we find that whilst existing blood meal studies in Australia are useful for investigating mosquito feeding patterns, standardisation of blood meal study methodologies and analyses, including the incorporation of vertebrate surveys, would improve predictions of the impact of vector-host interactions on disease ecology. Our analysis can also be used as a framework to explore mosquito-vertebrate associations, in which host availability data is unavailable, in other global systems.


The Condor ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 107 (2) ◽  
pp. 416-423
Author(s):  
Iain J. Stenhouse ◽  
Gregory J. Robertson

AbstractQuantifying the dynamics of populations is fundamental to understanding life-history strategies, and essential for population modeling and conservation biology. Few details of the demography and life history of the Sabine's Gull (Xema sabini) are known. Uniquely color banded Sabine's Gulls breeding in East Bay, Southampton Island, Nunavut, in the eastern Canadian Arctic, were examined from 1998–2002 to quantify vital rates. Generally, birds banded as chicks first returned to the breeding area in their third year, and the earliest case of first breeding was confirmed at three years of age. Sabine's Gull pairs showed strong tenacity to their breeding site from year to year, with most pairs nesting within approximately 100 m of the previous year's site, regardless of nest success. Individuals also showed strong year-to-year fidelity to their mates. However, birds whose previous partner failed to return, or returned late, were quick to remate. On rare occasions, birds were not seen in the study area in a particular year, but seen again in later years, either because they were missed, had dispersed temporarily outside the study area, or did not return to the breeding area in some years. Standard Capture-Mark-Recapture analyses were used to calculate local resighting and survival rates. Local annual survival rate of adult Sabine's Gulls was 0.89 ± 0.03, similar to annual adult survival estimates recently reported for other small to medium-sized gulls and terns.Filopatría, Apego al Sitio de Nidificación, Fidelidad a la Pareja y Supervivencia de los Adultos en Xema sabiniResumen. Cuantificar la dinámica de las poblaciones es fundamental para entender las estrategias de historia de vida y es esencial para la realización de modelos poblacionales y para la conservación biológica. Se conocen pocos detalles sobre la demografía e historia de vida de la gaviota Xema sabini. Para cuantificar sus tasas vitales, en este estudio se examinaron gaviotas anilladas que estaban criando en East Bay, Southampton Island, Nunavut (ártico canadiense) entre 1998 y 2002. Generalmente, las aves que fueron anilladas como pichones regresaron al área de cría en su tercer año, y el caso de primer apareamiento más temprano fue confirmado a los tres años de edad. Las parejas exhibieron un fuerte apego a su sitio de nidificación de año a año: la mayoría nidificaron a menos de aproximadamente 100 m del lugar en donde lo hicieron el año anterior, independientemente de su éxito de nidificación. Los individuos también mostraron gran fidelidad a sus parejas año a año. Sin embargo, las aves cuyas parejas no regresaron o lo hicieron tardíamente, encontraron nuevas parejas rápidamente. En raras ocasiones, algunas aves no fueron vistas en el área de estudio durante un año particular, pero fueron vistas en años siguientes, ya sea porque no fueron detectadas a pesar de estar presentes, porque se habían dispersado hacia afuera del área de estudio temporalmente o porque no regresaron al área de cría en algunos años. Se emplearon análisis estándar de captura, marcado y recaptura para calcular las tasas locales de reavistamiento y supervivencia. La tasa de supervivencia anual de los adultos de X. sabini fue 0.89 ± 0.03, un valor similar a los valores estimados de supervivencia anual de adultos documentados recientemente para gaviotines y otras gaviotas de tamaño medio.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (11) ◽  
pp. e0260333
Author(s):  
Danita Champakaew ◽  
Anuluck Junkum ◽  
Narin Sontigun ◽  
Sangob Sanit ◽  
Kwankamol Limsopatham ◽  
...  

Mosquitoes are hematophagous insects that transmit parasites and pathogens with devastating effects on humans, particularly in subtropical regions. Different mosquito species display various behaviors, breeding sites, and geographic distribution; however, they can be difficult to distinguish in the field due to morphological similarities between species and damage caused during trapping and transportation. Vector control methods for controlling mosquito-borne disease epidemics require an understanding of which vector species are present in the area as well as the epidemiological patterns of disease transmission. Although molecular techniques can accurately distinguish between mosquito species, they are costly and laborious, making them unsuitable for extensive use in the field. Thus, alternative techniques are required. Geometric morphometrics (GM) is a rapid and inexpensive technique that can be used to analyze the size, shape, and shape variation of individuals based on a range of traits. Here, we used GM to analyze the wings of 1,040 female mosquitoes from 12 different species in Thailand. The right wing of each specimen was removed, imaged microscopically, and digitized using 17 landmarks. Wing shape variation among genera and species was analyzed using canonical variate analysis (CVA), while discriminant function analysis was used to cross-validate classification reliability based on Mahalanobis distances. Phenetic relationships were constructed to illustrate the discrimination patterns for genera and species. CVA of the morphological variation among Aedes, Anopheles, Armigeres, Culex, and Mansonia mosquito genera revealed five clusters. In particular, we demonstrated a high percentage of correctly-distinguished samples among Aedes (97.48%), Armigeres (96.15%), Culex (90.07%), and Mansonia (91.67%), but not Anopheles (64.54%). Together, these findings suggest that wing landmark-based GM analysis is an efficient method for identifying mosquito species, particularly among the Aedes, Armigeres, Culex, and Mansonia genera.


Author(s):  
Eric Post

This chapter looks at examples illustrating patterns in phenological responses to observed and experimental climate change. The most commonly observed phenological response to recent climate change is an advance in the timing of early life history events such as migration, plant emergence or flowering, amphibian breeding, or egg-laying dates in birds. Patterns in satellite-derived images of primary productivity suggest a lengthening of the plant-growing season in recent decades, whereas data on plant phenological dynamics from studies conducted at plot and sublandscape scales indicate shortened phenophases, or phenological events, in response to warming. This contrast may be resolved by recognizing the difference between phenology in the context of individual life history strategies of disparate species and landscape-scale patterns of phenology, and by recognizing the difference between local, species-specific phenological dynamics and those occurring at the landscape scale.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gretchen F. Wagner ◽  
Emeline Mourocq ◽  
Michael Griesser

Biparental care systems are a valuable model to examine conflict, cooperation, and coordination between unrelated individuals, as the product of the interactions between the parents influences the fitness of both individuals. A common experimental technique for testing coordinated responses to changes in the costs of parental care is to temporarily handicap one parent, inducing a higher cost of providing care. However, dissimilarity in experimental designs of these studies has hindered interspecific comparisons of the patterns of cost distribution between parents and offspring. Here we apply a comparative experimental approach by handicapping a parent at nests of five bird species using the same experimental treatment. In some species, a decrease in care by a handicapped parent was compensated by its partner, while in others the increased costs of care were shunted to the offspring. Parental responses to an increased cost of care primarily depended on the total duration of care that offspring require. However, life history pace (i.e., adult survival and fecundity) did not influence parental decisions when faced with a higher cost of caring. Our study highlights that a greater attention to intergenerational trade-offs is warranted, particularly in species with a large burden of parental care. Moreover, we demonstrate that parental care decisions may be weighed more against physiological workload constraints than against future prospects of reproduction, supporting evidence that avian species may devote comparable amounts of energy into survival, regardless of life history strategy.


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