Fersiynau electronig

Dangosydd eitem ddigidol (DOI)

  • Matthew Schrader
    University of the South, Sewanee
  • Benjamin Jarrett
    University of Cambridge
  • Rebecca Kilner
    University of Cambridge

Recent studies have shown that intraspecific patterns of phenotypic plasticity can mirror patterns of evolutionary diversification among species. This appears to be the case in Nicrophorus beetles. Within species, body size is positively correlated with the size of carrion used to provision larvae and parental performance. Likewise, among species, variation in body size influences whether species exploit smaller or larger carrion and the extent to which larvae depend on parental care. However, it is unclear whether developmental plasticity in response to carcass size, parental care, or both underlie transitions to new carcass niches. We examined this by testing whether variation in the conditions experienced by Nicrophorus vespilloides larvae influenced their ability to breed efficiently upon differently sized carcasses as adults. We found that the conditions experienced by larvae during development played a critical role in determining their ability to use large carcasses effectively as adults. Specifically, individuals that developed with parental care and on large carcasses were best able to convert the resources on a large carcass into offspring when breeding themselves. Our results suggest that parentally induced plasticity can be important in the initial stages of niche expansion.
Iaith wreiddiolSaesneg
Tudalennau (o-i)667-674
CyfnodolynEvolution
Cyfrol76
Rhif y cyfnodolyn3
Dyddiad ar-lein cynnar31 Awst 2021
Dynodwyr Gwrthrych Digidol (DOIs)
StatwsCyhoeddwyd - 1 Maw 2022
Cyhoeddwyd yn allanolIe
Gweld graff cysylltiadau