Evolution determines how global warming and pesticide exposure will shape predator-prey interactions with vector mosquitoes.

ABSTRACT: How evolution may mitigate the effects of global warming and pesticide exposure on predator-prey interactions is directly relevant for vector control. Using a space-for-time substitution approach, we addressed how 4°C warming and exposure to the pesticide endosulfan shape the predation on Culex pipiens mosquitoes by damselfly predators from replicated low- and high-latitude populations. Although warming was only lethal for the mosquitoes, it reduced predation rates on these prey. Possibly, under warming escape speeds of the mosquitoes increased more than the attack efficiency of the predators. Endosulfan imposed mortality and induced behavioral changes (including increased filtering and thrashing and a positional shift away from the bottom) in mosquito larvae. Although the pesticide was on

SUBMITTER: Tran TT 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4908467 | biostudies-literature | 2016 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature