Journal of Vector Ecology (2010) 35, 347-353

Wan Fatma Zuharah and Philip J. Lester (2010)
The influence of aquatic predators on mosquito abundance in animal drinking troughs in New Zealand
Journal of Vector Ecology 35 (2), 347-353
Abstract: The occurrence and abundance of mosquito populations may be associated with the abundance of predators. We examined the relationship between aquatic predators and populations of mosquitoes in animal water troughs in Waikanae, New Zealand. We also investigated the effects of water volume and environmental factors (temperature, rainfall, wind speed, humidity, and pressure) in order to further understand factors influencing mosquito and predator populations. Logistic regression indicated that the presence or absence of mosquitoes was primarily affected by three factors: predator abundance, week of observation, and water volume. Pearson's correlation indicated that the presence of predators had a positive correlation with water volume (r²= 0.176, p< 0.05). Otherwise, the presence of mosquito larvae in water troughs was negatively correlated with water volume (r²=−0.159, p=0.022) and wind speed (r²=0.142, p=0.041). We established a translocation experiment in which predators or mosquitoes were moved between troughs in order to examine the prey survival rate after exposure to Anisops wakefieldi predators. The survival rate of mosquitoes was not significantly different, between 0-0.1%, irrespective of the number of predators translocated (1-9) or the initial mosquito density (20-70 larvae). Our results suggested that A. wakefieldi predators may have the potential to be a promising biological control tool for the control of mosquito populations by altering mosquito population dynamics.
(The abstract is excluded from the Creative Commons licence and has been copied with permission by the publisher.)
Link to article at publishers website
Database assignments for author(s): Wan Fatma Zuharah, Philip J. Lester

Research topic(s) for pests/diseases/weeds:
population dynamics/ epidemiology
biocontrol - natural enemies
Research topic(s) for beneficials or antagonists:
general biology - morphology - evolution

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Pest and/or beneficial records:

Beneficial	Pest/Disease/Weed	Crop/Product	Country	Quarant.
	Culex pervigilans		New Zealand
Anisops wakefieldi (predator)	Culex pervigilans		New Zealand