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Dissertation_Yang2017_final.pdf (3.77 MB)

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From Molecules to Ecosystems: How Do Mosquitoes Respond to Changing Environments?

Yang, Liu
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1500480231260621

Abstract Details

2017, Doctor of Philosophy, Ohio State University, Entomology.
The northern house mosquito, Culex pipiens is the primary vector of West Nile virus and several other serious disease pathogens (e.g. St. Louis encephalitis and filariasis). Like other insects living in temperate regions, C. pipiens undergoes a dormant phase called diapause to cope with difficult environmental challenges during winter (e.g. extreme low temperatures and relative humidity). Aquaporins (AQPs) are a group of membrane-bound channel proteins that can transport water and/or other small molecules for many important physiological activities of insects responding to environmental changes. In addition to natural fluctuations to the environment, human activity (e.g. urbanization, land use management) is another factor that shapes mosquito communities. In Chapter 1, I first reviewed the current knowledge about mosquito diapause with the focus of molecular characteristics, and the knowledge of insect aquaporins from the aspects of 1) structure and classification, 2) functional studies, and 3) molecular expression and physiological roles. Then I reviewed the studies on the effects of urbanization on mosquito communities. In Chapter 2, I described the overall AQP mRNA expression patterns of C. pipiens under a variety of physiological and environmental conditions. In Chapter 3, I first discussed the role of renal excretory system in the theme of water conservation during diapause, then I characterized the molecular expressions of AQPs in the whole body and different tissues of C. pipiens during diapause to explain whether AQPs are responsible for the suppressed renal excretory capacity during diapause. In Chapter 4, I studied the effect of one of the most common urban greenspace management strategies (periodic mowing) on mosquito communities in the city of Cleveland, OH. Cleveland has a long manufacturing history and has lost over 50% of its population due to economic declines and recent foreclosure crises. The large numbers of vacant lands within the city are subject to different landuse/ vegetation management strategies, which can produce negative ecological impacts (e.g. increase vector mosquito abundance). We compared the mosquito abundances and species richness between mowing and control treatments. We also analyzed how other environmental factors influence mosquito communities. Altogether, my dissertation used the knowledge and techniques of molecular biology and community ecology to dissect a small piece of the complex interactions between mosquitoes and the environmental challenges they face.
Peter Piermarini (Advisor)
David Denlinger (Committee Member)
Andy Michel (Committee Member)
Luis Canas (Committee Member)
172 p.
Entomology
Mosquito, Culex pipiens, aquaporin, overwintering diapause, urban landscape ecology

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Yang, L. (2017). From Molecules to Ecosystems: How Do Mosquitoes Respond to Changing Environments? [Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1500480231260621

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Yang, Liu. From Molecules to Ecosystems: How Do Mosquitoes Respond to Changing Environments? . 2017. Ohio State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1500480231260621.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Yang, Liu. "From Molecules to Ecosystems: How Do Mosquitoes Respond to Changing Environments? ." Doctoral dissertation, Ohio State University, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1500480231260621

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1500480231260621
621
© 2017, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.