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Larval habitat characterization of Culex mosquitoes in parallel puddles along the Chimehuín River
Organization(s):Science Club Huechulafquen (After School), Science Club Huechulafquen (After School), Argentina GLOBE v-School
Student(s):Pepe, Marianela
Martínez, Lucio
Wehinger, Juan
Grade Level:Secondary School (grades 9-12, ages 14-18)
GLOBE Educator(s):Ana Prieto, Jorge Pepe, María Graciela Sepúlveda
Contributors:Russanne Low
Cassie Soeffing
Dorian Janney
Ricardo Chrobak
Report Type(s):International Virtual Science Symposium Report
Protocols:Land Cover Classification, Alkalinity, Conductivity, Dissolved Oxygen, Freshwater Macroinvertebrates, Mosquitoes, Nitrates, Water Temperature, pH
Presentation Video:
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Language(s):English, Spanish
Date Submitted:03/09/2020
Patagonia has a mild to cold climate with a dry season during the summer season. These conditions impact the reproduction and survival of mosquitoes. Little is known about the habitats chosen by females to lay their eggs in this region, where species have been recorded outside the expected limit. Climate change predicts an expansion of mosquitoes towards higher latitudes and altitudes. Questions: What are the physicochemical characteristics of the water in the puddles parallel to the Chimehuín River that have mosquito larvae? What differences exist between water quality and macroinvertebrates found in puddles and in the river? What other species live with mosquitoes in puddles? The objective was to characterize water quality and land cover in habitats with mosquito larvae in the region. Methodology: GLOBE Program hydrosphere and biosphere protocols and the GLOBE-Observer application were applied. Water quality analyzes and land cover measurements were performed. The –T test was applied to establish differences of means and Chernoff faces to compare multiple parameters between sites. Traps were placed with mosquito baits. Oxygen, turbidity, alkalinity showed significant differences between the puddles and the river. The diversity of macroinvertebrates was greater in the river, in the puddles with mosquitoes only amphipods were found.