Do energy reserves and cold hardiness limit winter survival of Culex pipiens?

0539502 - BC 2022 RIV US eng J - Journal Article
Rozsypal, Jan - Moos, Martin - Rudolf, Ivo - Košťál, Vladimír
Do energy reserves and cold hardiness limit winter survival of Culex pipiens?
Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology A-Molecular & Integrative Physiology. Roč. 255, MAY 01 (2021), č. článku 110912. ISSN 1095-6433. E-ISSN 1531-4332
Institutional support: RVO:60077344 ; RVO:68081766
Keywords : Culex pipiens * insects * overwintering
OECD category: Biology (theoretical, mathematical, thermal, cryobiology, biological rhythm), Evolutionary biology; Zoology (UBO-W)
Impact factor: 2.888, year: 2021
Method of publishing: Limited access
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1095643321000180?via%3Dihub

The risks of depletion of energy reserves and encountering lethally low temperatures are considered as two important mortality factors that may limit winter survival of mosquito, Culex pipiens f. pipiens populations. Here we show that the autumn females carry lipid reserves, which are safely sufficient for at least two overwintering periods, provided the females diapausing at temperatures typical for underground spaces (0 °C - 8 °C) would continuously rest at a standard metabolic rate (SMR). The overwintering females, however, switch from SMR to much higher metabolic rate during flight, either seeking for optimal microhabitat within the shelter or in response to disturbances by air current or predator attack. These behaviors result in fast oxidation of lipid reserves and, therefore, the autumn load of energy reserves may actually limit winter survival under specific circumstances. Next, we show that the level of females' cold hardiness is physiologically set relatively weak for overwintering in open field, above-ground habitats, but is ecologically entirely sufficient for overwintering in most underground spaces. The characteristics of suitable overwintering shelters are: no or limited risk of contact with ice crystals, no or limited air movements, winter temperatures relatively stable between +2 and + 6 °C, winter minimum does not drop below −4 °C for longer than one week, or below −8 °C for longer than 1 day.
Permanent Link: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0326658