scholarly journals Morphological plasticity reduces the effect of poor developmental conditions on fledging age in mourning doves

2010 ◽  
Vol 277 (1688) ◽  
pp. 1659-1665 ◽  
Author(s):  
David A. Miller
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Brood Size ◽  
Developmental Plasticity ◽  
Morphological Plasticity ◽  
Developmental Time ◽  
Body Parts ◽  
Structural Growth ◽  
Mourning Doves ◽  
Wing Growth ◽  
Developmental Conditions

Developmental plasticity can be integral in adapting organisms to the environment experienced during growth. Adaptive plastic responses may be especially important in prioritizing development in response to stress during ontogeny. To evaluate this, I examined how developmental conditions for mourning doves related to early growth and how this affected fledging age, an important life-history transition for birds. The life history of mourning doves is consistent with strong selective pressure to minimize fledging age. Therefore, I predicted that in the face of nutritional stress associated with experimental brood-size increases, young would prioritize growth to structures that promote early fledging to reduce the effect of slowed overall growth on fledging age. Increasing brood size slowed overall structural growth of nestlings and affected the relative allocation of growth among different body parts. Total wing area was the best predictor of fledging age and individuals from larger broods had larger wings relative to overall body size. Although nestlings from larger broods fledged at later ages owing to slower overall growth, prioritization of wing growth reduced this effect by an estimated 1.6 days relative to the delay if plasticity among body parts had not occurred. This was an 11 per cent reduction in the predicted developmental time it took to reach this important life-history transition. Results demonstrate that preferential allocation to wing growth can affect the timing of this life-history transition and that morphological plasticity during development can have adaptive near-term effects during avian development.

Hormones and Behavior

2019 ◽  
pp. 11-26
Author(s):  
Maren N. Vitousek ◽  
Laura A. Schoenle
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Life Histories ◽  
Life History Traits ◽  
Developmental Plasticity ◽  
Endocrine System ◽  
Phenotypic Traits ◽  
Social Environments ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
And Behavior

Hormones mediate the expression of life history traits—phenotypic traits that contribute to lifetime fitness (i.e., reproductive timing, growth rate, number and size of offspring). The endocrine system shapes phenotype by organizing tissues during developmental periods and by activating changes in behavior, physiology, and morphology in response to varying physical and social environments. Because hormones can simultaneously regulate many traits (hormonal pleiotropy), they are important mediators of life history trade-offs among growth, reproduction, and survival. This chapter reviews the role of hormones in shaping life histories with an emphasis on developmental plasticity and reversible flexibility in endocrine and life history traits. It also discusses the advantages of studying hormone–behavior interactions from an evolutionary perspective. Recent research in evolutionary endocrinology has provided insight into the heritability of endocrine traits, how selection on hormone systems may influence the evolution of life histories, and the role of hormonal pleiotropy in driving or constraining evolution.

scholarly journals Nestling telomere shortening, but not telomere length, reflects developmental stress and predicts survival in wild birds

2014 ◽  
Vol 281 (1785) ◽  
pp. 20133287 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jelle J. Boonekamp ◽  
G. A. Mulder ◽  
H. Martijn Salomons ◽  
Cor Dijkstra ◽  
Simon Verhulst
Keyword(s):  
Telomere Length ◽  
Brood Size ◽  
Developmental Stress ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Telomere Shortening ◽  
Developmental Effects ◽  
Fitness Consequences ◽  
Developmental Conditions ◽  
Fledgling Mass

Developmental stressors often have long-term fitness consequences, but linking offspring traits to fitness prospects has remained a challenge. Telomere length predicts mortality in adult birds, and may provide a link between developmental conditions and fitness prospects. Here, we examine the effects of manipulated brood size on growth, telomere dynamics and post-fledging survival in free-living jackdaws. Nestlings in enlarged broods achieved lower mass and lost 21% more telomere repeats relative to nestlings in reduced broods, showing that developmental stress accelerates telomere shortening. Adult telomere length was positively correlated with their telomere length as nestling ( r = 0.83). Thus, an advantage of long telomeres in nestlings is carried through to adulthood. Nestling telomere shortening predicted post-fledging survival and recruitment independent of manipulation and fledgling mass. This effect was strong, with a threefold difference in recruitment probability over the telomere shortening range. By contrast, absolute telomere length was neither affected by brood size manipulation nor related to survival. We conclude that telomere loss, but not absolute telomere length, links developmental conditions to subsequent survival and suggest that telomere shortening may provide a key to unravelling the physiological causes of developmental effects on fitness.

Population dynamics of Stenothoe valida Dana, 1852 (Amphipoda, Stenothoidae) at Cheongsapo beach of Busan, Republic of Korea

Crustaceana ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 94 (4) ◽  
pp. 413-429
Author(s):  
Ye Ji Lee ◽  
Won Gyu Park
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Life History ◽  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Brood Size ◽  
Ovigerous Female ◽  
Seasonal Pattern ◽  
Recruitment Rate ◽  
Republic Of Korea ◽  
Female Size ◽  
History Of

Abstract The population dynamics of Stenothoe valida Dana, 1852 were studied at Cheongsapo beach of Busan, Republic of Korea, from March 2019 to March 2020. Sampling was conducted once a month at low tide during spring tides. Specimens were grouped by the cephalic length at 0.025 mm intervals, and classified into four categories: females, ovigerous females, males and juveniles. The sex ratio, defined as females : total males + females, exceeded 0.5 during most of the study period. Brood size was significantly coupled with ovigerous female size. Two to four cohorts appeared at each study period. New cohorts occurred at almost every sampling except in the samples Jun-2, and Nov-2. Life span was estimated at 1-2 months. The juvenile ratio, the ratio of ovigerous females, and the recruitment rate estimated by FiSAT were commonly high in summer and winter. The life history of S. valida was not coupled with water temperature, but had a strong seasonal pattern.

The costs of reproduction in tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor)

1991 ◽  
Vol 69 (10) ◽  
pp. 2540-2547 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathaniel T. Wheelwright ◽  
Joanna Leary ◽  
Caragh Fitzgerald
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Clutch Size ◽  
Brood Size ◽  
Life History Theory ◽  
Tachycineta Bicolor ◽  
Laying Date ◽  
Tree Swallows ◽  
Costs Of Reproduction ◽  
Return Rates ◽  
Trade Offs

We investigated the effect of brood size on nestling growth and survival, parental survival, and future fecundity in tree swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) over a 4-year period (1987–1990) in an effort to understand whether reproductive trade-offs limit clutch size in birds. In addition to examining naturally varying brood sizes in a population on Kent Island, New Brunswick, Canada, we experimentally modified brood sizes, increasing or decreasing the reproductive burdens of females by two offspring. Unlike previous studies, broods of the same females were enlarged or reduced in up to 3 successive years in a search for evidence of cumulative costs of reproduction that might go undetected by a single brood manipulation. Neither observation nor experiment supported the existence of a trade-off between offspring quality and quantity, in contrast with the predictions of life-history theory. Nestling wing length, mass, and tarsus length were unrelated to brood size. Although differences between means were in the direction predicted, few differences were statistically significant, despite large sample sizes. Nestlings from small broods were no more likely to return as breeding adults than nestlings from large broods, but return rates of both groups were very low. Parental return rates were also independent of brood size, and there was no evidence of a negative effect of brood size on future fecundity (laying date, clutch size). Reproductive success, nestling size, and survival did not differ between treatments for females whose broods were manipulated in successive years. Within the range of brood sizes observed in this study, the life-history costs of feeding one or two additional nestlings in tree swallows appear to be slight and cannot explain observed clutch sizes. Costs not measured in this study, such as the production of eggs or postfledging parental care, may be more important in limiting clutch size in birds.

scholarly journals Life-history variation of drosophila subobscura under lead pollution depends on population history

Genetika ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 693-703 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bojan Kenig ◽  
Aleksandra Patenkovic ◽  
Marko Andjelkovic ◽  
Marina Stamenkovic-Rada
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metal ◽  
Life History ◽  
Metal Contamination ◽  
Life History Traits ◽  
Heavy Metal Contamination ◽  
Developmental Time ◽  
Drosophila Subobscura ◽  
Life History Variation ◽  
Laboratory Conditions ◽  
Coefficients Of Variation

Contamination represents environmental stress that can affect genetic variability of populations, thus influencing the evolutionary processes. In this study, we evaluate the relationship between heavy metal contamination (Pb) and phenotypic variation, assessed by coefficients of variation (CV) of life-history traits. To investigate the consequences of population origin on variation of life history traits in Drosophila subobscura in response to different laboratory conditions we compared populations from relatively polluted and unpolluted environments. Prior to experiment, flies from natural populations were reared for two generations in standard Drosophila laboratory conditions. Afterwards, all flies were cultured on three different media: one medium without lead as the control, and the other two with different concentrations of lead. Coefficients of variation (CV) of life- history traits (fecundity, egg-to-adult viability and developmental time) were analyzed on flies sampled in generations F2, F5 and F8 from these three groups. In later generations samples from both polluted and unpolluted environments showed the increased fecundity variation on media with lead. This increase is expressed more in population from unpolluted environment. On contrary, population from unpolluted environment had increased variation of developmental time in earlier, F2 generation, compared to the population from polluted environment. Our results showed that the response to heavy metal contamination depends on the evolutionary history of the populations regarding habitat pollution.

Should I stay or should I go? Complex environments influence the developmental plasticity of flight capacity and flight-related trade-offs

2019 ◽  
Vol 128 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jordan R Glass ◽  
Zachary R Stahlschmidt
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Food Availability ◽  
Life History Traits ◽  
Developmental Plasticity ◽  
Temperature Variability ◽  
Field Cricket ◽  
Valuable Insight ◽  
Complex Environments ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Flight Capacity

Abstract Complex environments, characterized by co-varying factors (e.g. temperature and food availability) may cause animals to invest resources differentially into fitness-related traits. Thus, experiments manipulating multiple environmental factors concurrently provide valuable insight into the role of the environment in shaping not only important traits (e.g. dispersal capacity or reproduction), but also trait–trait interactions (e.g. trade-offs between traits). We used a multi-factorial design to manipulate variation in temperature (constant 28 °C vs. 28 ± 5 °C daily cycle) and food availability (unlimited vs. intermittent access) throughout development in the sand field cricket (Gryllus firmus). Using a univariate approach, we found that temperature variability and unlimited food availability promoted survival, development, growth, body size and/or reproductive investment. Using principal components as indices of resource allocation strategy, we found that temperature variability and unlimited food reduced investment into flight capacity in females. Thus, we detected a sex-specific trade-off between flight and other life-history traits that was developmentally plastic in response to variation in temperature and food availability. We develop an experimental and statistical framework to reveal shifts in correlative patterns of investment into different life-history traits. This approach can be applied to a range of biological systems to investigate how environmental complexity influences traits and trait trade-offs.

Effect of Temperature on the Predator, (Reuter) (Hemiptera: Anthocordiae) Feeding on Cryptolestes pusillus (Schon.) (Coleoptera: Cucujidae)

1970 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
pp. 41-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
MM Rahman ◽  
W Islam ◽  
KN Ahmed
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Insect Pest ◽  
Developmental Time ◽  
Effect Of Temperature ◽  
Hatching Rate ◽  
Immature Stages ◽  
Egg Hatching ◽  
Influence Of Temperature ◽  
Influence Of Temperature On ◽  
Cryptolestes Pusillus

Xylocoris flavipes (Reuter) is one of the dominant predators of many stored product insect pest including Cryptolestes pusillus. The influence of temperature on predator development, survival and some selected life history parameters was determined. Eggs laid/female (27.27±2.52) and egg hatching rate (%) (88.25±2.19) were highest at 30°C and lowest at 20°C (5.43±1.19 and 30.79±4.63%) respectively but no eggs laid at 15°C. Mortality among immature stages (%) was highest (51.71±1.48) at 35°C and lowest (24.25c±1.14) at 25°C. Developmental times decreasing with the increasing of temperature. Maximum numbers of progeny/female/day (3.55±0.76) were produced at 25°C and minimum (0.83±0.04) were at 20°C.The sex ratios (% female) of X. flavipes were 47.04, 56.68, 51.66 and 50.07 for 20, 25, 30 and 35°C respectively. Survivorship of ovipositing females was highest at 25°C but lowest at 35°C respectively. Key words: Xylocoris flavipes, Cryptolestes pusillus, life history, temperature, developmental time   doi: 10.3329/jbs.v15i0.2201 J. bio-sci. 15: 41-46, 2007

scholarly journals Can environmental conditions experienced in early life influence future generations?

2014 ◽  
Vol 281 (1785) ◽  
pp. 20140311 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim Burton ◽  
Neil B. Metcalfe
Keyword(s):  
Early Life ◽  
Developmental Plasticity ◽  
Later Life ◽  
Biomedical Literature ◽  
Adaptive Plasticity ◽  
Natural Systems ◽  
Life Conditions ◽  
Early Life Conditions ◽  
Developmental Conditions ◽  
Early Developmental

The consequences of early developmental conditions for performance in later life are now subjected to convergent interest from many different biological sub-disciplines. However, striking data, largely from the biomedical literature, show that environmental effects experienced even before conception can be transmissible to subsequent generations. Here, we review the growing evidence from natural systems for these cross-generational effects of early life conditions, showing that they can be generated by diverse environmental stressors, affect offspring in many ways and can be transmitted directly or indirectly by both parental lines for several generations. In doing so, we emphasize why early life might be so sensitive to the transmission of environmentally induced effects across generations. We also summarize recent theoretical advancements within the field of developmental plasticity, and discuss how parents might assemble different ‘internal’ and ‘external’ cues, even from the earliest stages of life, to instruct their investment decisions in offspring. In doing so, we provide a preliminary framework within the context of adaptive plasticity for understanding inter-generational phenomena that arise from early life conditions.

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