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Title: Field Evidence of Mosquito Population Regulation by a Gregarine Parasite
Abstract Although parasites are by definition costly to their host, demonstrating that a parasite is regulating its host abundance in the field can be difficult. Here we present an example of a gregarine parasite, Ascogregarina taiwanensis Lien and Levine (Apicomplexa: Lecudinidae), regulating its mosquito host, Aedes albopictus Skuse (Diptera: Culicidae), in Bermuda. We sampled larvae from container habitats over 2 yr, assessed parasite prevalence, and estimated host abundance from egg counts obtained in neighboring ovitraps. We regressed change in average egg count from 1 yr to the next on parasite prevalence and found a significant negative effect of parasite prevalence. We found no evidence of host density affecting parasite prevalence. Our results demonstrate that even for a parasite with moderate virulence, host regulation can occur in the field.  more » « less
Award ID(s):
1754376
PAR ID:
10274851
Author(s) / Creator(s):
;
Editor(s):
Scaraffia, Patricia
Date Published:
Journal Name:
Journal of Medical Entomology
Volume:
58
Issue:
3
ISSN:
0022-2585
Page Range / eLocation ID:
1188 to 1196
Format(s):
Medium: X
Sponsoring Org:
National Science Foundation
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