Semi-field experiments reveal contrasted predation and movement patterns of aquatic macroinvertebrate predators of Anopheles gambiae larvae
Abstract Background Members of the Anopheles gambiae complex are major malaria vectors in sub-Saharan Africa. Their larval stages inhabit a variety of aquatic habitats in which, under natural circumstances, they are preyed upon by different taxa of aquatic macroinvertebrate predators. Understanding...
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BMC
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Malaria Journal |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-025-05242-8 |
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| author | Hudson Onen Emmanuel W. Kaindoa Joel Nkya Alex Limwagu Martha A. Kaddumukasa Fredros O. Okumu Jonathan K. Kayondo Anne M. Akol Frédéric Tripet |
| author_facet | Hudson Onen Emmanuel W. Kaindoa Joel Nkya Alex Limwagu Martha A. Kaddumukasa Fredros O. Okumu Jonathan K. Kayondo Anne M. Akol Frédéric Tripet |
| author_sort | Hudson Onen |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Members of the Anopheles gambiae complex are major malaria vectors in sub-Saharan Africa. Their larval stages inhabit a variety of aquatic habitats in which, under natural circumstances, they are preyed upon by different taxa of aquatic macroinvertebrate predators. Understanding the potential impact of predators on malaria vector larval population dynamics is important for enabling integrated local mosquito control programmes with a stronger emphasis on biocontrol approaches. This study experimentally evaluated the predation efficacy and foraging strategy of three common aquatic macroinvertebrate predators of An. gambiae, diving beetles (Coleoptera), backswimmers (Hemiptera), and dragonfly nymphs (Odonata) in a semi-field system in South-Eastern Tanzania. Methods An array of alternating small and large basins used as aquatic habitats was created in two compartments of a semi-field system and filled with well water. Field-collected adult diving beetles, backswimmers or dragonfly nymphs were randomly assigned to these habitats and Anopheles arabiensis larvae were added as prey in half of the habitats. The number of mosquito larvae consumed, predator mobility across habitats and mortality were recorded at 24, 48 and 72 h. Results The presence of An. gambiae larvae in habitats significantly increased the survival of backswimmer and dragonfly nymphs, which are not mobile. In contrast, diving beetles survived well under any initial condition by preferentially flying away from habitats without prey to nearby larger habitats with prey. The larval predation rates of predacious diving beetle, backswimmer and dragonfly nymphs were stable over time at a mean of 3.2, 7.0 and 9.6 larvae consumed each day. Conclusion This study demonstrates that aquatic macroinvertebrate predators display adaptive foraging behaviour in response to prey presence and aquatic habitat size. It also confirms the ability of these predators to significantly reduce An. gambiae larval densities in aquatic habitats, thus their potential for consideration as additional biocontrol tools for mosquito population reduction. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-a053285585604c84801e7bba91065622 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1475-2875 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Malaria Journal |
| spelling | doaj-art-a053285585604c84801e7bba910656222025-01-12T12:08:58ZengBMCMalaria Journal1475-28752025-01-0124111110.1186/s12936-025-05242-8Semi-field experiments reveal contrasted predation and movement patterns of aquatic macroinvertebrate predators of Anopheles gambiae larvaeHudson Onen0Emmanuel W. Kaindoa1Joel Nkya2Alex Limwagu3Martha A. Kaddumukasa4Fredros O. Okumu5Jonathan K. Kayondo6Anne M. Akol7Frédéric Tripet8Department of Zoology, Entomology and Fisheries Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, School of Biosciences, Makerere UniversityEnvironmental Health and Ecological Science Department, Ifakara Health InstituteEnvironmental Health and Ecological Science Department, Ifakara Health InstituteEnvironmental Health and Ecological Science Department, Ifakara Health InstituteFaculty of Science, Biological Sciences, Kyambogo UniversityEnvironmental Health and Ecological Science Department, Ifakara Health InstituteDepartment of Entomology, Uganda Virus Research InstituteDepartment of Zoology, Entomology and Fisheries Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, School of Biosciences, Makerere UniversitySwiss Tropical and Public Health InstituteAbstract Background Members of the Anopheles gambiae complex are major malaria vectors in sub-Saharan Africa. Their larval stages inhabit a variety of aquatic habitats in which, under natural circumstances, they are preyed upon by different taxa of aquatic macroinvertebrate predators. Understanding the potential impact of predators on malaria vector larval population dynamics is important for enabling integrated local mosquito control programmes with a stronger emphasis on biocontrol approaches. This study experimentally evaluated the predation efficacy and foraging strategy of three common aquatic macroinvertebrate predators of An. gambiae, diving beetles (Coleoptera), backswimmers (Hemiptera), and dragonfly nymphs (Odonata) in a semi-field system in South-Eastern Tanzania. Methods An array of alternating small and large basins used as aquatic habitats was created in two compartments of a semi-field system and filled with well water. Field-collected adult diving beetles, backswimmers or dragonfly nymphs were randomly assigned to these habitats and Anopheles arabiensis larvae were added as prey in half of the habitats. The number of mosquito larvae consumed, predator mobility across habitats and mortality were recorded at 24, 48 and 72 h. Results The presence of An. gambiae larvae in habitats significantly increased the survival of backswimmer and dragonfly nymphs, which are not mobile. In contrast, diving beetles survived well under any initial condition by preferentially flying away from habitats without prey to nearby larger habitats with prey. The larval predation rates of predacious diving beetle, backswimmer and dragonfly nymphs were stable over time at a mean of 3.2, 7.0 and 9.6 larvae consumed each day. Conclusion This study demonstrates that aquatic macroinvertebrate predators display adaptive foraging behaviour in response to prey presence and aquatic habitat size. It also confirms the ability of these predators to significantly reduce An. gambiae larval densities in aquatic habitats, thus their potential for consideration as additional biocontrol tools for mosquito population reduction.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-025-05242-8MacroinvertebratePredationAnopheles gambiaeSemi-fieldLarval aquatic habitats |
| spellingShingle | Hudson Onen Emmanuel W. Kaindoa Joel Nkya Alex Limwagu Martha A. Kaddumukasa Fredros O. Okumu Jonathan K. Kayondo Anne M. Akol Frédéric Tripet Semi-field experiments reveal contrasted predation and movement patterns of aquatic macroinvertebrate predators of Anopheles gambiae larvae Malaria Journal Macroinvertebrate Predation Anopheles gambiae Semi-field Larval aquatic habitats |
| title | Semi-field experiments reveal contrasted predation and movement patterns of aquatic macroinvertebrate predators of Anopheles gambiae larvae |
| title_full | Semi-field experiments reveal contrasted predation and movement patterns of aquatic macroinvertebrate predators of Anopheles gambiae larvae |
| title_fullStr | Semi-field experiments reveal contrasted predation and movement patterns of aquatic macroinvertebrate predators of Anopheles gambiae larvae |
| title_full_unstemmed | Semi-field experiments reveal contrasted predation and movement patterns of aquatic macroinvertebrate predators of Anopheles gambiae larvae |
| title_short | Semi-field experiments reveal contrasted predation and movement patterns of aquatic macroinvertebrate predators of Anopheles gambiae larvae |
| title_sort | semi field experiments reveal contrasted predation and movement patterns of aquatic macroinvertebrate predators of anopheles gambiae larvae |
| topic | Macroinvertebrate Predation Anopheles gambiae Semi-field Larval aquatic habitats |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12936-025-05242-8 |
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