Predators and Invaders in Florida Container Communities

1. Predators and Invaders in Florida Container Communities P. Lounibos, M. Griswold & B. Alto, U. of Florida B. Kesavaraju & S. Juliano, Illinois State U. 1. Invasive A. albopictus are preferred to native O. triseriatus as prey of larval predators in Florida containers (Fig. A). 2. The coexistence of these two prey mosquito species is promoted by high levels of predation and leaves (Fig. B). 3. In container communities, C. appendiculata controls prey diversity and T. rutilus regulates abundance (Fig. C). 4. The demonstration of effects in experimental tires suggests an important role of predation in limiting invasion success (Fig. D). Aedes albopictus (invasive) Corethrella appendiculata IV instar consuming Aedes II Ochlerotatus triseriatus (native) Toxorhynchites rutilus IV instar consuming Aedes IV Experiments conducted in beakers with both prey species (24h: Fig. A) or separated (hatch to adult Fig. B), varying food and predation levels. Fig. B. Composite index of performance shows high levels of Food (leaves) and predation favor coexistence of two prey spp. Fig. A. Both C. appendiculata and T. rutilus (not shown) significantly (α>>.52) preferred A. albopictus at all ratios. Month-long experiment to examine invader recruitment w & w/o predators Experiment outdoors in screened beakers to examine role of predator species Control 2 C. append. 1 T. rut. Both Fig. D. A significant treatment effect on A. albopictus abundance was mainly attributable to tires w/o predators vs. tires with predators Fig. C. A low level of C. appendiculata predation supports prey co-existence compared to controls with no predators, andsurvival with T. rutilus alone is not different from both predators together