Functional traits in red flour beetles: the dispersal phenotype is associated with leg length but not body size nor metabolic rate

AbstractSecuring matings is a key determinant of fitness, and in many species, males are the sex that engages in mate searching. Searching for mates is often associated with increased mobility. This elevated investment in movement is predicted to trade-off with sperm competitiveness, but few studies have directly tested whether this trade-off occurs. Here, we assessed whether artificial selection on mobility affected sperm competitiveness and mating behavior, and if increased mobility was due to increased leg length in red flour beetles (Tribolium castaneum). We found that, in general, males selected for decreased mobility copulated for longer, stimulated females more during mating, and tended to be better sperm competitors. Surprisingly, they also had longer legs. However, how well males performed in sperm competition depended on females. Males with reduced mobility always copulated for longer than males with high mobility, but this only translated into greater fertilization success in females from control populations and not the selection populations (i.e. treatment females). These results are consistent with a mate-searching/mating-duration trade-off and broadly support a trade-off between mobility and sperm competitiveness.

Download Full-text

Maturity matters for movement and metabolic rate: trait dynamics across the early adult life of red flour beetles

Animal Behaviour ◽

10.1016/j.anbehav.2015.10.023 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 111 ◽

pp. 181-188 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Pieter A. Arnold ◽

Phillip Cassey ◽

Craig R. White

Keyword(s):

Metabolic Rate ◽

Adult Life ◽

Flour Beetles ◽

Early Adult Life ◽

Red Flour Beetles

Download Full-text

Ecology and biogeography in the introduction to “De bestiis marinis” by Georg Wilhelm Steller

Archives of Natural History ◽

10.3366/anh.2019.0554 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 46 (1) ◽

pp. 63-74

Author(s):

Stefano Mattioli

Keyword(s):

Body Size ◽

Phenotypic Plasticity ◽

Geographical Distribution ◽

Functional Traits ◽

Marine Mammals ◽

Main Part ◽

Wide Distribution ◽

Restricted Range ◽

Direct Influence ◽

Modern Biology

The rediscovery of the original, unedited Latin manuscript of Georg Wilhelm Steller's “De bestiis marinis” (“On marine mammals”), first published in 1751, calls for a new translation into English. The main part of the treatise contains detailed descriptions of four marine mammals, but the introduction is devoted to more general issues, including innovative speculation on morphology, ecology and biogeography, anticipating arguments and concepts of modern biology. Steller noted early that climate and food have a direct influence on body size, pelage and functional traits of mammals, potentially affecting reversible changes (phenotypic plasticity). Feeding and other behavioural habits have an impact on the geographical distribution of mammals. Species with a broad diet tend to have a wide distribution, whereas animals with a narrow diet more likely have only a restricted range. According to Steller, both sea and land then still concealed countless animals unknown to science.

Download Full-text

Faculty Opinions recommendation of Metabolic rate and body size are linked with perception of temporal information.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.718136730.793485068 ◽

2013 ◽

Author(s):

Kevin Lafferty

Keyword(s):

Body Size ◽

Metabolic Rate ◽

Temporal Information

Download Full-text

Effect of Continuous Exposure of Malathion-Resistant Red Flour Beetles (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) to Malathion-Treated Wheat or Wheat Exposed to Treated Surfaces1

Journal of Economic Entomology ◽

10.1093/jee/76.3.657 ◽

1983 ◽

Vol 76 (3) ◽

pp. 657-661

Author(s):

N. D. G. White

Keyword(s):

Continuous Exposure ◽

Flour Beetles ◽

Red Flour Beetles ◽

Coleoptera Tenebrionidae

Download Full-text

Changes in body temperature influence the scaling of and aerobic scope in mammals

Biology Letters ◽

10.1098/rsbl.2006.0576 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 3 (1) ◽

pp. 100-103 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

James F Gillooly ◽

Andrew P Allen

Keyword(s):

Body Size ◽

Metabolic Rate ◽

Size Dependence ◽

Maximal Activity ◽

Scaling Exponent ◽

Temperature Influence ◽

Aerobic Scope ◽

Metabolic Scope ◽

Single Power ◽

Maximum Metabolic Rate

Debate on the mechanism(s) responsible for the scaling of metabolic rate with body size in mammals has focused on why the maximum metabolic rate ( ) appears to scale more steeply with body size than the basal metabolic rate (BMR). Consequently, metabolic scope, defined as /BMR, systematically increases with body size. These observations have led some to suggest that and BMR are controlled by fundamentally different processes, and to discount the generality of models that predict a single power-law scaling exponent for the size dependence of the metabolic rate. We present a model that predicts a steeper size dependence for than BMR based on the observation that changes in muscle temperature from rest to maximal activity are greater in larger mammals. Empirical data support the model's prediction. This model thus provides a potential theoretical and mechanistic link between BMR and .

Download Full-text

Respiratory Exchange and Body Size in the Aldabra Giant Tortoise

Journal of Experimental Biology ◽

10.1242/jeb.55.3.651 ◽

1971 ◽

Vol 55 (3) ◽

pp. 651-665 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

G. M. HUGHES ◽

R. GAYMER ◽

MARGARET MOORE ◽

A. J. WOAKES

Keyword(s):

Body Weight ◽

Body Size ◽

Metabolic Rate ◽

Relative Proportion ◽

The Body ◽

O2 Consumption ◽

Weight Range ◽

Testudo Hermanni ◽

The Mean ◽

Good Agreement

1. The O2 consumption and CO2 release of nine giant tortoises Testudo gigantea (weight range 118 g-35·5 kg) were measured at a temperature of about 25·5°C. Four European tortoises Testudo hermanni (weight range 640 g-2·16 kg) were also used. The mean RQ values obtained were 1·01 for T. gigantea and 0·97 for T. hermanni. These values were not influenced by activity or size. 2. The data was analysed by plotting log/log regression lines relating body weight to O2 consumption. Both maximum and minimum metabolic rates recorded for each individual T. gigantea showed a negative correlation with body weight. For active rates the relation was O2 consumption = 140·8W0·97, whereas for inactive animals O2 consumption = 45·47W0·82. 3. The maximum rates were obtained from animals that were observed to be active in the respirometer and the minimum rates from animals that remained quiet throughout. The scope for activity increased with body size, being 82 ml/kg/h for animals of 100 g and 103 ml/kg/h for 100 kg animals. The corresponding ratio between maximum and minimum rates increases from about 2 to 6 for the same weight range. 4. Values for metabolic rate in T. hermanni seem to be rather lower than in T. gigantea. Analysis of the relative proportion of the shell and other organs indicates that the shell forms about 31% of the body weight in adult T. hermanni but only about 18% in T. gigantea of similar size. The shell is not appreciably heavier in adult T. gigantea (about 20%). 5. Data obtained for inactive animals is in good agreement with results of other workers using lizards and snakes. Previous evidence suggesting that chelonians show no reduction in metabolic rate with increasing size is not considered to conflict with data obtained in the present work.

Download Full-text