Data from: The role of temperature in affecting carry-over effects and larval competition in the globally invasive mosquito, Aedes albopictus

Background: Ectotherms, like mosquitoes, have evolved specific responses
to variation in environmental conditions like temperature, and these
responses could confer a fitness benefit or cost when carried-over to
different life stages. However, effects of temperature on animals with
complex life-cycles often only focus on part of their life-cycle, or only
consider how single aspects of life-history may carry over to new stages.
Herein we investigated how temperature affects intraspecific larval
competition and carry-over effects from larval to adult stages in the
widespread invasive Asian tiger mosquito Aedes albopictus. Methods: For
larval competition, larvae were reared at three densities (10, 20, and 40
individuals) across three source temperatures (21 °C, 27 °C and 34 °C). To
test carry-over effects, adult survival was measured for individuals
crossed with adult temperatures of 21 °C, 27 °C and 34 °C from the larval
density of 20 individuals at each source temperature. Fecundity data also
were obtained from mated females. Results: For competition, there was a
significant interaction between larval density and temperature, with the
smallest females, who took the longest to develop, produced in the highest
temperatures; density generally accentuated this effect. Regarding
carry-over effects, adults exposed to higher temperatures lead to greater
differences in fecundity and survival of adult populations. Conclusions:
Temperature appears to affect life-history of developing larvae under
competitive interactions and can also alter adult fitness as the disparity
between larval rearing and adult habitat temperatures increases. This has
importance for our understanding for how different life-history stages of
Ae. albopictus and other vectors of disease may respond to changing
climates.