Competition between tadpoles and mosquitoes: the effects of larval density and tadpole size

摘要: Tadpoles and mosquito larvae compete for scarce resources in natural freshwater ecosystems, but factors determining the extent of competition between these two groups organisms remain largely unstudied. Natural ponds display great variation both densities larvae, body sizes tadpoles. We set up replicated artificial pond experiments to examine effects population density tadpole size on interactions tadpoles larvae. examined larval systems co-occurring one from brackish-water ephemeral (Crinia signifera with Ochlerotatus australis) permanent (Limnodynastes peronii Culex quinquefasciatus). In systems, increasing suppressed growth development conspecifics competing taxon. C. quinquefasciatus–L. system, larger exerted more powerful suppression. Our results suggest that developmental rates adult (and thus, danger which mosquitoes pose public health) may be reduced if water-bodies contain dense populations large