Role of learning in predator avoidance behaviour of mosquito larvae (Aedes Aegypti)
Student name: Ms Upasana Ganguly
Guide: Dr Joachim Michael Schmerbeck
Year of completion: 2013
Host Organisation: National Centre for Biological Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Bangalore
Supervisor (Host Organisation): Dr Suhel Quader
Abstract: For successful persistence of prey populations, it is very important for them to recognise and
avoid predators effectively. The current study examines the role of learning in predator
avoidance behaviour of Aedes aegypti larval mosquitoes. Understanding these behavioural
patterns helps us to know as to what extent this learning affects their anti-predatory responses.
We aimed to examine whether these larvae learn to assess predation risk based on prior
experience and how different levels of learning affect their behavioural responses towards
predation threat. We performed two experiments in which we manipulated the levels of learning
and then assayed behavioural responses to predator cues. We first assessed if they learn to avoid
microhabitats associated with predation risk by providing them two choices in a Y-shaped cavity,
one food cue and other predator cue in the form of predator faecal matter & damaged
conspecific matter. The larvae showed some avoidance towards the arm with predator cue. A
second experiment with larvae subjected to three different levels of learning and subsequently,
assayed in Y-cavity showed that the larvae having no prior experience with the predator show no
avoidance towards predation risk. On the other hand, the larvae conditioned with full
information about predator showed some interesting behavioural patterns by exploring both the
arms and ended up in the one with predator cue. The larvae conditioned with partial information
about predator tend to avoid the predation risk. Although these results demonstrate that larvae
exposed to different learning regimes respond differently to predator cues, not all the patterns
are easily explicable. Future work is needed to unravel different aspects or learning as well as
separate different specific cues for a more thorough understanding of predator avoidance
behaviour.
Keywords: Predation, Learning, Aedes aegypti, Anti-predatory responses, Cues
