Predators and Invaders in Florida Container Communities P. Lounibos, M. Griswold & B. Alto, U. of Florida B. Kesavaraju & S. Juliano, Illinois State U. 1. Invasive A. albopictus are preferred to native O. triseriatus as prey of larval predators in Florida containers (Fig. A). 2. The coexistence of these two prey mosquito species is promoted by high levels of predation and leaves (Fig. B). 3. In container communities, C. appendiculata controls prey diversity and T. rutilus regulates abundance (Fig. C). 4. The demonstration of effects in experimental tires suggests an important role of predation in limiting invasion success (Fig. D). Corethrella appendiculata IV instar consuming Aedes II Aedes albopictus (invasive) Ochlerotatus triseriatus (native) Toxorhynchites rutilus IV instar consuming Aedes IV 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1 P roportion A. albopictus available M anly's a ( SD ) * * * * Fig. A. Both C. appendiculata and T. rutilus (not shown) significantly (α>>.52) preferred A. albopictus at all ratios. Fig. B. Composite index of performance shows high levels of Food (leaves) and predation favor coexistence of two prey spp. Control 2 C. append. 1 T. rut. Both Fig. C. A low level of C. appendiculata predation supports prey co-existence compared to controls with no predators, and survival with T. rutilus alone is not different from both predators together Fig. D. A significant treatment effect on A. albopictus abundance was mainly attributable to tires w/o predators vs. tires with predators Experiments conducted in beakers with both prey species (24h: Fig. A) or separated (hatch to adult Fig. B), varying food and predation levels. Experiment outdoors in screened beakers to examine role of predator species Month-long experiment to examine invader recruitment w & w/o predators