An investigation into the salinity tolerance, oviposition behavior and breeding habitat ecology of a widespread (Aedes aegypti) and restricted (Aedes togoi) mosquito species
department or school: Science, Faculty of
department or school: Zoology, Department of
data provider: DSpace
degree campus: UBCV
creator: Phelan, Orna
issued: 2023-07-25T16:29:56Z
issued: 2023
related degree: Master of Science - MSc
degree grantor: University of British Columbia
description: There are over 3,500 species of mosquito, occupying a huge range of environments including inland and coastal habitats. Salinity tolerance plays a crucial role in the ecology of mosquitoes as it can determine whether a particular habitat is suitable for larvae. Understanding how aquatic larvae physiologically cope with salt and how adult mosquitoes detect salt is of critical importance to understanding the biology of important vector species. In this study, the larval salinity tolerance, oviposition preference and breeding habitat ecology of a widespread (Ae. aegypti) and restricted (Ae. togoi) mosquito species was investigated to try to understand key physiological and behavioral differences. Ae. aegypti breed and develop in freshwater containers associated with urban environments while Ae. togoi develop in high fluctuating salt-water rockpools. By conducting larval survival studies, I found that, although Ae. togoi larvae are capable of surviving in extremely high concentrations of seawater, Ae. aegypti larvae can tolerate a wider range of ions at intermediate concentrations. This ability to survive in a wide variety of water types could partially explain how Ae. aegypti have been able to spread globally while Ae. togoi remains restricted to coastal areas. Oviposition bioassays found that salinity may not be a key driver of oviposition for Ae. togoi, as it is for Ae. aegypti. Finally, a field study of Ae. togoi in metro Vancouver uncovered that temperature, precipitation, salinity and the interaction of these factors are important predictors of larval abundance. This study has highlighted the importance of investigating field populations as well as conducting laboratory experiments when investigating the biology of a species. In reality, a suite of interacting factors modulates the ability of species to survive in their habitat and these factors can only be uncovered by examining field populations. In addition, a two-species comparison can aid into providing preli…
aggregated CHO: https://circle.library.ubc.ca/rest/handle/2429/85316
note: An investigation into the salinity tolerance, oviposition behavior and breeding habitat ecology of a widespread (Aedes aegypti) and restricted (Aedes togoi) mosquito species by Orna Phelan B.Sc., University College Dublin, 2019 A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF SCIENCE in THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE AND POSDOCTORAL STUDIES (Zoology) THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (Vancouver) July 2023 © Orna Phelan, 2023 ii The following individuals certify that they have read, and recommend to the Faculty of Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies for acceptance, the thesis entitled: An investigation into the salinity tolerance, oviposition behavior and breeding habitat ecology of a widespread (Aedes aegypti) and restricted (Aedes togoi) mosquito species submitted by Orna Phelan in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Zoology Examining Committee: Dr. Benjamin J. Matthews, Assistant Professor, Zoology, UBC Supervisor Dr. Christopher Harley, Professor, Zoology, UBC Supervisory Committee Member Dr. Colin Brauner, Professor, Zoology, UBC Additional Examiner Additional Supervisory Committee Members: Dr. Michelle Tseng, Assistant Professor, Zoology, UBC Supervisory Committee Member iii Abstract There are over 3,500 species of mosquito, occupying a huge range of environments including inland and coastal habitats. Salinity tolerance plays a crucial role in the ecology of mosquitoes as it can determine whether a particular habitat is suitable for larvae. Understanding how aquatic larvae physiologically cope with salt and how adult mosquitoes detect salt is of critical importance to understanding the biology of important vector species. In this study, the larval salinity tolerance, oviposition preference and breeding habitat ecology of a widespread (Ae. aegypti) and restricted (Ae. togoi) mosquito species was investigated to try to understand key physiological and behavioral differences. Ae. aegypti br…
has type: Thesis/Dissertation
date issued: 2023-11
is shown at: 10.14288/1.0434287
language: eng
degree discipline: Zoology
provider: Vancouver : University of British Columbia Library
publisher: University of British Columbia
rights: Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International
rights URI: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
scholar level: Graduate
contributor: Matthews, Benjamin J., 1983-
type: Text
identifier URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2429/85316