Warbanski Misha L, Marques Piata, Frauendorf Therese C, Phillip Dawn A T, El-Sabaawi Rana W
Biology Department University of Victoria Victoria BC Canada.
Department of Life Sciences The University of the West Indies St Augustine Trinidad and Tobago.
Ecol Evol. 2017 Apr 1;7(10):3324-3334. doi: 10.1002/ece3.2666. eCollection 2017 May.
Guppies () are frequently introduced to both natural and artificial water bodies as a mosquito control. Laboratory studies have demonstrated that guppies can consume large numbers of larval mosquitoes. Our study investigates how intraspecific variability in guppy phenotype affects their importance as a mosquito biocontrol and how habitat conditions (natural ponds vs. water storage containers) may influence insect biomass and guppy feeding. Using a blocked experimental design, we established stream-side mesocosm ponds with half receiving gravel substrate to simulate pond-bottom habitat. To provide realistic diet choices and insect abundances, we allowed the mesocosms to colonize naturally with aquatic insect larvae for 1 month before introducing guppies. We tested two distinct guppy phenotypes (from high- and low-predation streams) alongside fish-free controls. After 1 month, we measured insect biomass in the mesocosms and examined guppy gut contents to document direct predation. While overall insect biomass was not significantly different across the three fish treatments, we observed a significant reduction in mosquito biomass in fish treatments compared to fish-free controls, as well as intraspecific differences in feeding. Overall insect biomass was significantly higher in mesocosms without gravel, while habitat condition had no effect on mosquito biomass. As guppy phenotype responds to changes in their environments, it is an important consideration for biocontrol policy to anticipate potential ecosystem effects. We close by relating our findings to other studies and by discussing the implications and potential risks of using guppies to control mosquitoes.
孔雀鱼（）常被引入自然水体和人工水体以控制蚊子数量。实验室研究表明，孔雀鱼能捕食大量蚊子幼虫。我们的研究调查了孔雀鱼表型的种内变异性如何影响其作为蚊子生物防治手段的重要性，以及栖息地条件（天然池塘与储水容器）如何影响昆虫生物量和孔雀鱼的摄食情况。我们采用区组实验设计，在溪边建立了中型生态池塘，其中一半池塘铺设砾石基质以模拟池塘底部栖息地。为了提供实际的食物选择和昆虫数量，在引入孔雀鱼之前，我们让中型生态池塘自然繁殖水生昆虫幼虫1个月。我们测试了两种不同表型的孔雀鱼（分别来自高捕食压力溪流和低捕食压力溪流）以及无鱼对照。1个月后，我们测量了中型生态池塘中的昆虫生物量，并检查了孔雀鱼的肠道内容物以记录直接捕食情况。虽然在三种鱼类处理中，总体昆虫生物量没有显著差异，但与无鱼对照相比，我们观察到鱼类处理中蚊子生物量显著减少，以及摄食的种内差异。没有砾石的中型生态池塘中总体昆虫生物量显著更高，而栖息地条件对蚊子生物量没有影响。由于孔雀鱼表型会对其环境变化做出反应，预测潜在的生态系统影响是生物防治政策的一个重要考虑因素。我们通过将研究结果与其他研究相关联，并讨论使用孔雀鱼控制蚊子的影响和潜在风险来结束本文。
