Infections of Wolbachia may destabilize mosquito population dynamics. (7th September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Telschow, Arndt; Grziwotz, Florian; Crain, Philip; Miki, Takeshi; Mains, James W.; Sugihara, George; Dobson, Stephen L.; Hsieh, Chih-hao
• Is Part Of: Journal of theoretical biology. Volume 428(2017)
• Page Start: 98
• Page End: 105
• Publication Date: 2017-09-07
• Subjects: Aedes albopictus -- Time series analysis -- S-map -- Population stability; Biology -- Periodicals; Biological Science Disciplines -- Periodicals; Biology -- Periodicals; Biologie -- Périodiques; Theoretische biologie; Biology; Periodicals; 571.05
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2017.05.016
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-5193

Abstract

Highlights: Higher variability in Wolbachia -infected vs. uninfected mosquito populations. Lower predictability in Wolbachia -infected mosquito populations. Higher state dependence in Wolbachia -infected mosquito populations. Results explained by increased larval competition in Wolbachia -infected mosquitoes. Abstract: Recent efforts in controlling mosquito-borne diseases focus on biocontrol strategies that incapacitate pathogens inside mosquitoes by altering the mosquito's microbiome. A case in point is the introduction of Wolbachia into natural mosquito populations in order to eliminate Dengue virus. However, whether this strategy can successfully control vector-borne diseases is debated; particularly, how artificial infection affects population dynamics of hosts remains unclear. Here, we show that natural Wolbachia infections are associated with unstable mosquito population dynamics by contrasting Wolbachia -infected versus uninfected cage populations of the Asian tiger mosquito ( Aedes albopictus ). By analyzing weekly data of adult mosquito abundances, we found that the variability of the infected populations is significantly higher than that of the uninfected. The elevated population variability is explained by increased instability in dynamics, as quantified by system nonlinearity (i.e., state-dependence). In addition, predictability of infected populations is substantially lower. A mathematical model analysis suggests that Wolbachia may alter mosquito population dynamics by modifying larval competition of hosts. These results encourage examination for effects of artificial Wolbachia establishment on mosquito populations, because an enhancement of population variability with reduced predictability could pose challenges in management. Our findings have implications for application of microbiome alterations in biocontrol programs.