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Lab Report On Natural Grass Habitats

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3.4. Results
3.4.1. An. arabiensis larval density in natural grass habitats
No significant effect of sub-site location was found (F = 0.367, DFd = 9, DFn = 3, P = 0.999). Hence, the larval abundance data collected from the breeding habitats associated with each grass species was pooled in subsequent analysis. An. arabiensis was the most abundant species comprising more than 40 % of the specimens in the study area, and was the only member of the An. gambiae sensu lato complex to be identified following PCR analyses of 48 mosquito larvae.
A significantly higher number of An. arabiensis larvae were found in E. pyramidalis dominated breeding habitats than in any of the other potential breeding habitats (Figure 5). The number of larvae in the …show more content…

Mean numbers of eggs with the same letters indicate no significant difference from one another (nominal logistic fit model, 2 and P E. stagnina > T. latifolia ≥ C. papyrus. These findings may also reflect the abundance of available nutrients and toxins associated with these potential larval habitats, which may affect larval survival differentially in the various grass-associated habitats.
Emergent vegetation in aquatic habitats are commonly associated with the presence or absence of An. gambiae/An. coluzzii and An. arabiensis larvae (Ndenga et al., 2011; Minakawa et al., 2014; Fillinger et al., 2004; Minakawa et al., 2012; 2014; Mwangangi et al., 2007). The observed patterns of association with vegetation are consistent with previous reports (Fillinger et al., 2009; Fillinger et al., 2004; 2009Bøgh et al., 2003). In studies in which the vegetation has been characterised, habitats associated with Poacaea generally have a higher An. gambiae/An. coluzzii and An. arabiensis larval density compared with that of habitats associated with Typhaceae and Cyperacaea (Fillinger et al., 2004; 2009). While vegetation in these habitats is known to influence characteristics, such as shading, temperature, water flow, predator abundance and nutrients, they also provide gravid mosquitoes with chemical cues

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