Positive_Mortality_Effects_Predation_Data.xlsx

Four days prior to the beginning of the experiment, 500ml plastic containers were filled with 400ml recerse osmosis water, 1 g dried oak (<i>Quercus virginiana</i>) leaves, and 0.05g dried decorated crickets (Gryllodes sigillatus), and 100 µl microbial inoculum from rain-filled buckets. Containers were covered with plastic lids with holes punched for ventilation. Cohorts of 150 newly hatched Aedes aegypti were placed in each container and exposed to one of five predator treatments: no predator, Mesocyclops longisetus, Corethrella appendiculata, Anopheles barberi, and diverse. Single predator species treatments received 3 individual predators of the same species, and the diverse treatments received one of each species. All predators used were late instars. Predators were removed on day 6. 0.5g dried oak leaves and 0.025g dried decorated crickets were added on days 16 and 30 to replenish food resources for <i>A. aegypti. </i>Containers were checked daily for <i>A. aegypti </i>pupae which were placed in glass vials and the number of days from hatching to pupation recorded (Daystop in data). Pupae were checked daily for adults, which were removed and the sex and the number of days to adulthood (Daystoa in data file) recorded. Female adults were placed in a drying oven at 70C for &gt;48 hours, after which their wing lengths were measured.