Meeting Abstract
Constructed wetlands are a common, cost-effective method for filtering municipal wastewater which typically contains low concentrations of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs). These wetlands provide an ideal breeding habitat for a diverse array of organisms including disease vectors and nuisance species such as mosquitoes. Mosquito predators, such as mosquito fish, are often used as a biological means of reducing mosquito populations by either directly consuming the mosquitoes or by deterring female oviposition in aquatic habitats. However, it is unclear how PPCPs affect the ecology of wastewater wetlands. In this study, we examine how three common PPCPs, in conjunction with predator kairomones, affect oviposition site choice and larval performance of mosquitoes. We quantify differences in oviposition, hatching success, larval abundance, and adult emergence in experimental mesocosms with and without predator kairomones and with or without the presence of either an antimicrobial disinfectant (Triclosan), a stimulant (Caffeine), an insect repellent (DEET), or a mixture of all three chemicals. Our results can have important implications for the management of mosquitoes and for understanding how PPCPs, that are ubiquitous in both constructed and natural waterways, may be affecting the ecology of these systems.
