Immature mosquitoes from groundwater habitats in a temperate wetland of Argentina: Environmental associations and seasonal variation of community attributes

Abstract

We studied the seasonal patterns of 3 community attributes (breeding site index, richness, and diversity) of groundwater mosquito immatures and their associations with meso-and microhabitat factors in the Paran Lower Delta, Argentina, from December 2009 to November 2010. Monthly collections at 4 sites yielded 2,313 mosquito immatures, belonging to 19 species assigned to 6 genera. Immatures developed in a wide range of microenvironmental conditions (water temperature 4.030.2°C, pH 5.49.1, electrical conductivity 0.026.33 mS/cm, and dissolved oxygen 0235.6), and their occurrence was significantly associated with lower water temperature and dissolved oxygen values. Most frequently captured species were Culex dolosus s.l. (58.6), Aedes crinifer (22.9), and Cx. intrincatus (19.0). Breeding site index was highest in winter (0.76) and lowest in spring (0.54). Species richness and diversity varied significantly among seasons (peaking in summer), land uses, and habitat types.