Developmental synchronization of the purple pitcher plant mosquito, Wyeomyia smithii, as a result of increasing environmental temperatures

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Date

2018-06

Authors

Spies, Kevin Michael

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

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Publisher

University of Oregon

Abstract

Developmental synchronization is the evolutionary phenomenon wherein individuals of a given population are able to achieve life cycle milestones in synchrony, independent of when development was initiated. Synchronization is important for population survival and reproduction. For ectothermic insect species, environmental temperature plays an important role in growth and development; increasing temperatures are positively correlated with developmental rates between the thermal threshold of development and the thermal optimum. The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not developmental synchronization occurs in the pitcher plant mosquito, Wyeomyia smithii, during the termination of larval diapause and subsequent development in response to increasing environmental temperatures. I sought to answer this question by gradually introducing four geographically distinct W. smithii populations into an increasing thermal environment (4-30 °C) and observing the time of pupation for individual larvae. I determined that W. smithii undergoes developmental synchronization from diapause termination to pupation between temperatures of 4 °C and 20 °C; however higher temperatures result in the decline of synchronization and delay of development. These results have important implications for mosquito control programs; programs may use this information to determine the optimal time and duration to deploy chemical or biological agents for control of mosquito vectors of serious human pathogens.

Description

37 pages. Presented to the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry and the Robert D. Clark Honors College in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Bachelor of Science June 2018

Keywords

Biochemistry, Insect Development, Development, Mosquito, Synchronization, Pitcher Plant, Temperature, Diapause

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