Variation in diet concentration and bacterial inoculum size in larval habitats shapes the performance of the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Ecological niches present unique environmental and biological trademarks such as abiotic conditions, nutrient availability, and trophic interactions that may impact the ecology of living organisms. Female mosquitoes deposit their eggs in aquatic niches with fluctuating diet sources and microbial communities. However, how niche's diet and microbial composition impact mosquito performance (i.e., traits that maximize mosquito fitness) are not well understood. In this study, we focused on the Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, one of the most invasive species in the world and a competent vector for human pathogens. To remove any external microbes, Ae. albopictus eggs were surface-sterilized then hatching larvae were exposed to a gradient of bacterial inoculum (i.e., ini

SUBMITTER: Raquin V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12096715 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature