Biological control of mosquitoes often fails and thus needs radical new approaches; here, we will harness variation in the predatory efficiencies of native invertebrate predators of mosquitoes. Behavioural, ecological and genetic techniques will be blended and the research operationalised locally and globally.
Mosquito borne diseases affect millions of humans and animals annually and may be exacerbated with climate change; hence, innovative new methods to reduce these impacts are imperative. The development of biocontrol using predators of mosquitoes to tackle disease transmission (e.g. malaria, West Nile virus) has typically used alien predators (1), often leading to deleterious impacts on non-target organisms/communities. Changing focus from vertebrate (e.g. fish) to invertebrate (e.g. copepod) control agents brings advantages, as invertebrates are more abundant and tolerant of environmental extremes, and have greater reproduction and dispersal. Thus, small invertebrate predators have great potential for cheap, easy to manage and effective mosquito biocontrol (2). Specifically, we will harness variation in the predatory efficiency among individuals within populations of native predators, evidenced by variation in per capita feeding rates or “functional responses” of such predators (3). We will thus screen a range of native European and African invertebrates (e.g. beetles, shrimp, copepods) and proceed to test five core Hypotheses: With functional response analyses, we will quantify individual mosquito predator efficiencies (H1), test individual predator consistency over time (H2) and identify heritability of such traits in subsequent generations (H3). Transcriptomic differences will be assessed using RNAseq (H4) and correlation/deep machine learning approaches, for example, Logic Forest will investigate the relationship between the gene expression signatures and phenotypic measures linked to increased predator effficiency. The genomic impact will be assessed via high throughput RNA sequencing (H5). The deep RNA-Seq will guide gene expression-based quantitative trait locus (QTL) studies providing information on allele-specific expression (ASE) and RNA-isoform expression. This methodology will allow us to exploit variation among individuals within populations, and identify those native species with the highest, and most consistently heritable, biocontrol potential. We will engage with local and global stakeholders (eg PHA, DAERA, AFBI, NGOs, CABI, health professionals, farmers, vets, community groups) to disseminate ‘inoculation packs’ of native biocontrol agents; plus provide education packs of universally-interpretable (i.e. pictures and flow charts) information on use of control agents. Training and supervision in functional response experiments will be provided by Prof Dick (QUB) and computational biology and genomics by Prof Hardiman (QUB); Dr Bodey will train the student in measuring trait variation in species. The student will engage with European/Southern African partners, and collaborate with Dr Archie Murchie (AFBI NI) and join existing QUADRAT students.
More project details are available here:
https://www.quadrat.ac.uk/quadrat-projects/
How to apply:
https://www.quadrat.ac.uk/how-to-apply/
1.Shaalan, E. A.-S. & Canyon, D. V. (2009). Aquatic insect predators and mosquito control. Trop. Biomed. 26: 223–261.
2. Cuthbert, R.N., Callaghan, A., Sentis, A., Dalal, A. & Dick, J.T.A. (2020). Additive multiple predator effects can reduce mosquito populations. Ecological Entomology, 45: 243-250.
3. Alexander, M.E., Dick, J.T.A. & O'Connor, N.E. (2015). Predation in the marine intertidal amphipod Echinogammarus marinus Leach: implications of inter- and intra-individual variation. Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology, 462: 50-54.
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