Limiting Mosquito Breeding in Greenhouse Grown Spartina alterniflora
Faculty Mentor
Michele Guidone
Location
Savannah Ballroom
Type of Research
On-going
Session Format
Poster Presentation
College
College of Science & Mathematics
Department
Biology
Abstract
Spartina alterniflora is a perennial deciduous grass that is a foundation species in estuarine salt marshes. It is also grown in greenhouse environments for research and restoration purposes, including living shoreline stabilization projects. In the greenhouse environment, bottom watering creates stagnant water habitat for algae and a potential breeding ground for mosquitoes. Previous study indicates a complex relationship between salinity, the presence of algae, and the breeding success of mosquitoes. The purpose of this study is to investigate a practical technique utilizing salinity for growing Spartina alterniflora in a greenhouse, without the breeding mosquitos and to investigate how algal presence may offset this. To assess how bottom-water salinity and algal presence influence Spartina alterniflora growth and mosquito breeding potential, we grew 36 plants individually under freshwater, 15-ppt, or 30-ppt conditions, with half of the plants in each salinity treatment receiving added algae and half maintained algae-free. Mosquito larva and pupa were found living in Spartina bottomwater both with and without algae but only in freshwater. Preliminary results suggest that growing S. alterniflora in water with a salinity greater than 15-ppt deters mosquitoes from depositing their eggs without negatively impacting plant health.
Program Description
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Start Date
4-21-2026 10:00 AM
End Date
4-21-2026 12:00 PM
Recommended Citation
Smith, Meghan E., "Limiting Mosquito Breeding in Greenhouse Grown Spartina alterniflora" (2026). GS4 Student Scholars Symposium. 13.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/research_symposium/2026A/2026A/13
Limiting Mosquito Breeding in Greenhouse Grown Spartina alterniflora
Savannah Ballroom
Spartina alterniflora is a perennial deciduous grass that is a foundation species in estuarine salt marshes. It is also grown in greenhouse environments for research and restoration purposes, including living shoreline stabilization projects. In the greenhouse environment, bottom watering creates stagnant water habitat for algae and a potential breeding ground for mosquitoes. Previous study indicates a complex relationship between salinity, the presence of algae, and the breeding success of mosquitoes. The purpose of this study is to investigate a practical technique utilizing salinity for growing Spartina alterniflora in a greenhouse, without the breeding mosquitos and to investigate how algal presence may offset this. To assess how bottom-water salinity and algal presence influence Spartina alterniflora growth and mosquito breeding potential, we grew 36 plants individually under freshwater, 15-ppt, or 30-ppt conditions, with half of the plants in each salinity treatment receiving added algae and half maintained algae-free. Mosquito larva and pupa were found living in Spartina bottomwater both with and without algae but only in freshwater. Preliminary results suggest that growing S. alterniflora in water with a salinity greater than 15-ppt deters mosquitoes from depositing their eggs without negatively impacting plant health.
