The effect of resource limitation on the temperature-dependence of mosquito population fitness
File(s)
Accepted version
Supporting information
Author(s)
Huxley, Paul J
Murray, Kris A
Pawar, Samraat
Cator, Lauren J
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Laboratory-derived temperature dependencies of life history traits are increasingly being used
to make mechanistic predictions for how climatic warming will affect vector-borne disease
dynamics, partially by affecting abundance dynamics of the vector population. These
temperature-trait relationships are typically estimated from juvenile populations reared on
optimal resource supply, even though natural populations of vectors are expected to
experience variation in resource supply, including intermittent resource limitation. Using
laboratory experiments on the mosquito Aedes aegypti, a principal arbovirus vector,
combined with stage-structured population modelling, we show that low-resource supply in
the juvenile life stages significantly depresses the vector’s maximal population growth rate
across the entire temperature range (22–32°C) and causes it to peak at a lower temperature
than at high-resource supply. This effect is primarily driven by an increase in juvenile
mortality and development time, combined with a decrease in adult size with temperature at
low-resource supply. Our study suggests that most projections of temperature-dependent
vector abundance and disease transmission are likely to be biased because they are based on
traits measured under optimal resource supply. Our results provide compelling evidence for
future studies to consider resource supply when predicting the effects of climate and habitat
change on vector-borne disease transmission, disease vectors and other arthropods.
to make mechanistic predictions for how climatic warming will affect vector-borne disease
dynamics, partially by affecting abundance dynamics of the vector population. These
temperature-trait relationships are typically estimated from juvenile populations reared on
optimal resource supply, even though natural populations of vectors are expected to
experience variation in resource supply, including intermittent resource limitation. Using
laboratory experiments on the mosquito Aedes aegypti, a principal arbovirus vector,
combined with stage-structured population modelling, we show that low-resource supply in
the juvenile life stages significantly depresses the vector’s maximal population growth rate
across the entire temperature range (22–32°C) and causes it to peak at a lower temperature
than at high-resource supply. This effect is primarily driven by an increase in juvenile
mortality and development time, combined with a decrease in adult size with temperature at
low-resource supply. Our study suggests that most projections of temperature-dependent
vector abundance and disease transmission are likely to be biased because they are based on
traits measured under optimal resource supply. Our results provide compelling evidence for
future studies to consider resource supply when predicting the effects of climate and habitat
change on vector-borne disease transmission, disease vectors and other arthropods.
Date Issued
2021-04-28
Date Acceptance
2021-03-23
Citation
Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 2021, 288 (1949)
ISSN
0962-8452
Publisher
The Royal Society
Journal / Book Title
Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences
Volume
288
Issue
1949
Copyright Statement
© 2021 The Author(s). Published by the Royal Society. All rights reserved.
Sponsor
Medical Research Council (MRC)
Grant Number
MR/R015600/1
Subjects
06 Biological Sciences
07 Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences
11 Medical and Health Sciences
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
ARTN 20203217
Date Publish Online
2021-04-28