Cannibalism in temporary waters: Simulations and laboratory experiments revealed the role of spatial shape in the mosquito Aedes albopictus.

ABSTRACT: Cannibalism is a commonly observed phenomenon in arthropod species having relevant consequences for population dynamics and individual fitness. It is a context-dependent behaviour and an understanding of the factors affecting cannibalism rate is crucial to highlight its ecological relevance. In mosquitoes, cannibalism between larval stages has been widely documented, and the role of density, food availability and length of contact between individuals also ascertained. However, although mosquitoes can develop in temporary water habitats with very heterogeneous topologies, the role of the site shape where cannibals and victims co-occur has been instead overlooked. In this paper, we investigated this issue by using a simulation approach and laboratory cannibalism experiments between old (thir

SUBMITTER: Mastrantonio V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5973580 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature