Coexistence mechanisms at multiple scales in mosquito assemblages

Author(s)

Laporta, Gabriel Zorello ^{[1, 2]} ; Sallum, Maria Anice Mureb ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Saude Publ, Dept Epidemiol, Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Fac Saude Publ, Lab Informat Med LIM 01, Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: BMC ECOLOGY; v. 14, NOV 11 2014.
• Web of Science Citations: 10

Abstract

Background: Species coexistence in mosquito assemblages may depend on mechanisms related to interspecific resource partitioning occurring at multiple scales. In the present work we investigated co-occurrence or spatial segregation in mosquito assemblages sharing resources at micro-habitat, habitat and landscape scales. Environmental characteristics, mosquito fauna as adults and larvae were assessed along vegetation gradient in a natural landscape of tropical rainforest. Huisman-Olff-Fresco (HOF) and Generalized Additive (GAM) models were employed to explore relationships between abundances of potential competitors in mosquito assemblages and vegetation gradient (e.g., scrublands, mixed arboreal vegetation and dense ombrophilous forest). We tested hypotheses concerning mosquito species co-occurrence or spatial segregation employing binomial logistic regression models. Results: Co-occurrences and spatial segregation of mosquito species showed evidences of three scales of coexistence mechanisms: 1) micro-habitat - scale 1: different behaviors in response to food availability in specific vertical strata within larval container; 2) habitat - scale 2: specialized strategies related to heterogeneity of resource availability among larval containers and 3) landscape - scale 3: asymmetrical competition dependent upon the context of abiotic and biotic variables. Conclusion: Results of the present work suggest that coexistence mechanisms can concomitantly work at multiple scales. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/20397-7 - Morphological and molecular taxonomy and phylogeny of Nyssorhynchus subgenus of Anopheles (Diptera: Culicidae), with special emphasis on Anopheles darlingi from Mata Atlântica
• Grantee: Maria Anice Mureb Sallum
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• FAPESP's process: 12/09939-5 - Understanding the effects of landscape and biodiversity on dynamics of malaria transmission
• Grantee: Gabriel Zorello Laporta
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral