Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory

11 Jul, 10 AM - 01 Aug, 01 AM

Understanding geographic variation in thermal tolerance traits is extremely important for our ability to predict how species will respond to global climate change. To address this, we will investigate within-species differences in upper thermal tolerance limits across geographically-distributed populations of the mosquito Culex tarsalis. C. tarsalis, the primary vector of West Nile virus in the U.S., is distributed across most of western North America and spans a wide range of thermal environments, making it highly appropriate for our study. We will collect adult C. tarsalis from three sites representing different thermal habitats in California: Coachella, Irvine, and Mammoth Lakes. We will compare thermal traits between these populations in two ways. First, we will measure the critical thermal maximum (CTMax) to evaluate responses to acute thermal stress. Second, we will compare the metabolic rate ? temperature relationship by measuring mosquito metabolic rates at three temperatures to assess the long-term effects of exposure to such different environmental temperatures. These responses will be compared between populations to identify the extent to which C. tarsalis are capable of specializing to such different thermal environments. This study will improve our understanding of the ability for C. tarsalis to tolerate changes in temperature, and thereby provide the basis for predictions about how this important vector species will respond to climate change.

Visit #24770 @Sierra Nevada Aquatic Research Laboratory

Approved

Under Project # 23508 | Research

Comparing thermal tolerance across geographic populations of Culex tarsalis

graduate_student - University of California, Irvine

Reservation Members(s)

ASHLEY VORHEES Jul 11 - Aug 1, 2011 (22 days)

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Dorm 1 Jul 11 - Aug 1, 2011
Lab 1 1 Jul 11 - Aug 1, 2011
Lab 2 1 Jul 11 - Aug 1, 2011
Lab 3 1 Jul 11 - Aug 1, 2011
Lab 4 1 Jul 11 - Aug 1, 2011
Lab 5 1 Jul 11 - Aug 1, 2011
Lab 6 1 Jul 11 - Aug 1, 2011