scholarly journals Interpopulation Plasticity in a Darkling Beetle Life-History along a Whole Oceanic Island Altitudinal Gradient

Insects ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 1137
Author(s):  
Heriberto López ◽  
Sandra Hervías-Parejo ◽  
Elena Morales ◽  
Salvador De La Cruz ◽  
Manuel Nogales
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Altitudinal Gradient ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Phenotypic Expression ◽  
Oceanic Islands ◽  
The Body ◽  
Reproductive Phenology ◽  
Darkling Beetle

Insects show remarkable phenotypic plasticity in response to changing environmental conditions. The abiotic factors that determine their phenotypes often vary in time and space, and oceanic islands harbour ideal environments for testing predictions on this matter. The ubiquitous beetle Pimelia laevigata costipennis Wollaston, 1864 (Tenebrionidae) is distributed over the entire altitudinal gradient of the island El Hierro (Canary archipelago), from 0 to 1501 m above sea level. Here, we examine how environmental factors (i.e., rainfall and temperature), associated with the altitudinal gradient, affect the body size, reproductive phenology, clutch size and egg volume, and population dynamics of this ectothermic flightless insect. Pimelia l. costipennis populations inhabiting upland localities, typified by lower temperatures, and greater precipitation and vegetation cover, were larger in body size and laid larger clutches with smaller eggs than those in the lowlands. Moreover, reproduction occurred earlier in the year at lower sites and later at higher sites, whereas activity density was highest in the uplands where it increases with temperature. This study first explores the changes in life history patterns along a whole insular altitudinal gradient, and finds interpopulation plasticity. It confirms that environmental factors associated with species spatial distribution act additively as drivers of phenological and phenotypic expression.

scholarly journals Biology, not environment, drives major patterns in maximum tetrapod body size through time

2012 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 674-677 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roland B. Sookias ◽  
Roger B. J. Benson ◽  
Richard J. Butler
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Logistic Models ◽  
Growth Curves ◽  
Maximum Size ◽  
Generalized Least Squares ◽  
Least Squares Regression ◽  
Geological Time ◽  
Cenozoic Mammals

Abiotic and biological factors have been hypothesized as controlling maximum body size of tetrapods and other animals through geological time. We analyse the effects of three abiotic factors—oxygen, temperature and land area—on maximum size of Permian–Jurassic archosauromorphs and therapsids, and Cenozoic mammals, using time series generalized least-squares regression models. We also examine maximum size growth curves for the Permian–Jurassic data by comparing fits of Gompertz and logistic models. When serial correlation is removed, we find no robust correlations, indicating that these environmental factors did not consistently control tetrapod maximum size. Gompertz models—i.e. exponentially decreasing rate of size increase at larger sizes—fit maximum size curves far better than logistic models. This suggests that biological limits such as reduced fecundity and niche space availability become increasingly limiting as larger sizes are reached. Environmental factors analysed may still have imposed an upper limit on tetrapod body size, but any environmentally imposed limit did not vary substantially during the intervals examined despite variation in these environmental factors.

scholarly journals Determinants of life-history traits in a fish ectoparasite: a hierarchical analysis

Parasitology ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 138 (7) ◽  
pp. 848-857 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. LOOT ◽  
N. POULET ◽  
S. BROSSE ◽  
L. TUDESQUE ◽  
F. THOMAS ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Egg Size ◽  
Life History Traits ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Individual Characteristics ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Individual Fitness ◽  
Parasite Number ◽  
Egg Number

SUMMARYObjective. Unravelling the determinants of parasite life-history traits in natural settings is complex. Here, we deciphered the relationships between biotic, abiotic factors and the variation in 4 life-history traits (body size, egg presence, egg number and egg size) in the fish ectoparasite Tracheliastes polycolpus. We then determined the factors affecting the strength of the trade-off between egg number and egg size. Methods. To do so, we used 4-level (parasite, microhabitat, host and environment) hierarchical models coupled to a field database. Results. Variation in life-history traits was mostly due to individual characteristics measured at the parasite level. At the microhabitat level (fins of fish hosts), parasite number was positively related to body size, egg presence and egg number. Higher parasite number on fins was positively associated with individual parasite fitness. At the host level, host body size was positively related to the individual fitness of the parasite; parasites were bigger and more fecund on bigger hosts. In contrast, factors measured at the environmental level had a weak influence on life-history traits. Finally, a site-dependent trade-off between egg number and egg size existed in this population. Conclusion. Our study illustrates the importance of considering parasite life-history traits in a hierarchical framework to decipher complex links between biotic, abiotic factors and parasite life-history traits.

Comparative life history features of the western spotted frog, Rana pretiosa, from low- and high-elevation populations

1975 ◽  
Vol 53 (9) ◽  
pp. 1254-1257 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lawrence E. Licht
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Life History ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Sexual Maturity ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
The Body ◽  
Female Fecundity ◽  
Size At Sexual Maturity ◽  
Rana Pretiosa

Comparisons are made of life history features of the western spotted frog, Rana pretiosa pretiosa, living at 70 m in southwestern British Columbia, and 2600 m in Yellowstone Park, Wyoming.Lowland tadpoles remain longer as larvae and transform at twice the body size as highland tadpoles.Growth rates of juveniles and adults are rapid in the lowland population and the same amount of growth achieved by them in 2–3 years takes 8–10 years for highland frogs.Body size at sexual maturity is the same for frogs from both populations, but B.C. frogs breed at half the age of Wyoming frogs. Female fecundity, the number of eggs at spawning, is the same, but lowland females breed annually, while high-elevation females breed only every 2 or 3 years.Various explanations are put forth to account for observed differences.

Life history and ecology of the elegant snake-eyed skink (Cryptoblepharus pulcher) in south-eastern Australia

2019 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 51
Author(s):  
David A. Pike ◽  
Elizabeth A. Roznik ◽  
Jonathan K. Webb ◽  
Richard Shine
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Natural Habitat ◽  
The Body ◽  
Lizard Species ◽  
Tropical Environments ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Taxonomic Changes ◽  
Gravid Females ◽  
Incubation Temperatures

Detailed information on life history and ecology is essential for successful conservation and management. However, we have relatively little detailed data on the life history and ecology of most small lizard species, relative to other vertebrates, especially those that have undergone recent taxonomic changes. We studied the ecology of the elegant snake-eyed skink (Cryptoblepharus pulcher), a lizard that occurs on trees, fences, walls, and rock outcroppings in eastern Australia that spans temperate to tropical environments. In our temperate-zone study population living in natural habitat, individuals are active year-round, and gravid females were found during the months of September through December. Sexual maturity is reached in 12 months, lifespan is at least three years, and clutch size is typically two eggs. In laboratory incubation experiments, larger eggs were more likely to hatch. Low incubation temperatures (averaging 23 ± 7.5°C versus high temperatures averaging 26 ± 7.5°C) increased incubation duration significantly (range 56–72 days versus 40–51 days) and reduced the body size of hatchlings significantly (17.8 mm versus 18.7 mm snout–vent length). Skinks sheltered beneath small rocks that were not shared simultaneously with predatory snakes, and that reached average temperatures that were up to 3°C warmer during the day than unused rocks. Preferred microhabitats include substrates of rock or soil, and the largest rocks were occasionally shared by up to four individuals of all body size/sex combinations (5.8% of observations were shared, 30.2% of individual rocks were shared). Our study expands upon knowledge of the widespread genus Cryptoblepharus by providing detailed life history and ecological information on C. pulcher that can serve as a baseline for future studies.

scholarly journals Decomposing phenotypic skew and its effects on the predicted response to strong selection

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joel L Pick ◽  
Hannah Lemon ◽  
Caroline Elizabeth Thomson ◽  
Jarrod Hadfield
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Quantitative Genetics ◽  
Selection Response ◽  
Evolutionary Change ◽  
Directional Selection ◽  
The Body ◽  
Cyanistes Caeruleus ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Blue Tits

The major frameworks for predicting evolutionary change assume that a phenotype's underlying genetic and environmental components are normally distributed. However, the predictions of these frameworks may no longer hold if distributions are skewed. Despite this, phenotypic skew has never been decomposed, meaning the fundamental assumptions of quantitative genetics remain untested. Here, we demonstrate that the substantial phenotypic skew in the body size of juvenile blue tits (Cyanistes caeruleus) is driven by environmental factors. Although skew had little impact on our predictions of selection response in this case, our results highlight the impact of skew on the estimation of inheritance and selection. Specifically, the non-linear parent-offspring regressions induced by skew, alongside selective disappearance, can strongly bias estimates of heritability. The ubiquity of skew and strong directional selection on juvenile body size implies that heritability is commonly overestimated, which may in part explain the discrepancy between predicted and observed trait evolution.

Life history and reproductive biology of the invasive amphipod Melita palmata (Amphipoda: Melitidae) in the Mar Chiquita coastal lagoon, Argentina

2006 ◽  
Vol 86 (6) ◽  
pp. 1381-1387 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Obenat ◽  
E. Spivak ◽  
L. Garrido
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Population Density ◽  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Reproductive Biology ◽  
Coastal Lagoon ◽  
Brood Size ◽  
Maximum Size ◽  
The Body ◽  
Invasive Amphipod

The life history and reproductive biology of the gammaridean amphipod Melita palmata was studied in the Mar Chiquita coastal lagoon (Argentina). The animals were collected fortnightly or monthly from Ficopomatus enigmaticus reefs from December 2000 to March 2002. The population density reached a maximum of 1556.67±1560 ind/m3 (mean±SD) in March 2001, decreased dramatically after intense rainfalls in winter 2001, and had a minimum value of 141.67±27.54 ind/m3 (mean±SD) in March 2002. Size differed significantly between sexes. The maximum size of males was 11.5 mm and this was 1.4 times longer than the length of females. The average sex ratio (0.44) did not differ significantly from an expected 1:1 value. Ovigerous females were present from December to March, when the temperature was above 18°C. The body size of ovigerous females ranged from 2.9 to 6.81 mm. There was a positive correlation between the brood size and body length of ovigerous females, and the maximum number of eggs per female was ten. Recruitment took place during the whole breeding season; juveniles recruited at the beginning of the season matured at the end of the same season, those recruited late would probably reach maturity in the following season.

scholarly journals Estructura de la población del cangrejo rojo de manglar, Goniopsis cruentata (Decapoda: Grapsidae) bajo diferentes impactos de pesca: Implicaciones para la gestión de los recursos.

2015 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 443 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gustavo L. Hirose ◽  
Laize S. Souza ◽  
Sonja L. R. Silva ◽  
Douglas F. R. Alves ◽  
Maria Lucia Negreiros-Fransozo
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Sexual Maturity ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Mangrove Ecosystem ◽  
The Body ◽  
Sediment Surface ◽  
Brazilian Coast ◽  
Catch Per Unit Effort ◽  
Fishery Resource

<p>The red mangrove crab, <em>Goniopsis cruentata,</em> influences the recruitment and composition of plant species in the mangrove ecosystem and it is an important fishery resource. Nevertheless, no current management and conservation plans are available for this species for the Brazilian coast. This investigation evaluated the population structure and reproductive biology in populations of <em>G. cruentata</em> under contrasting fishery pressures. The sampling program was carried out in two mangroves, Vaza-Barris and Sergipe River, from January through December 2011. Crabs from both mangroves were randomly collected by a professional fisherman during daytime low tide periods, using a fishing rod baited with pieces of a locally abundant gastropod, <em>Pugilina morio</em>, during 20min/area (catch per unit effort). Monthly measurements of air, sediment surface layer and water temperatures were obtained with a digital thermometer and salinity with an optical refractometer. Both crab populations were compared concerning their abundance, body size, sex ratio, size at onset of sexual maturity and fecundity (FI). Abiotic factors (air, water and mud temperature; and salinity) showed no significant differences between sampling localities. A total of 4 370 crabs were sampled, 2 829 from the Sergipe River and 1 541 from the Vaza-Barris River. The abundance and body size of crabs were compared between mangroves, and statistically significant differences were found. The sex ratio for both populations differed from the expected 1:1 ratio, and a significant deviation in favor of juvenile males was obtained, while adults showed a bias toward females. The estimated size at onset of sexual maturity for both sexes was similar in both populations. However, the populations differed significantly in the number and volume of eggs: a higher FI was obtained in females from the Sergipe River, while a higher egg volume was observed in females from the Vaza-Barris River mangrove. These results indicated a tendency to decrease the body size, the abundance of crabs and the reproductive potential of the species, with higher fishing intensities, reinforcing the need to develop a management plan as well as to establish conservation units for <em>G. cruentata</em> in the Northeastern Brazilian coast. Habitat loss in conjunction with long-term overfishing can have irreversible consequences, which can impact not only the populations of commercially exploited crabs, but the dynamics of virtually the entire mangrove ecosystem.</p>

scholarly journals Long-Term Data Reveal the Associations of the Egg Quality With Abiotic Factors and Female Traits in the Baltic Herring Under Variable Environmental Conditions

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marjut Rajasilta ◽  
Katja Mäkinen ◽  
Suvi Ruuskanen ◽  
Jari Hänninen ◽  
Päivi Laine
Keyword(s):  
Body Size ◽  
Thyroid Hormones ◽  
Lipid Content ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Egg Quality ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Small Body ◽  
The Body ◽  
Baltic Herring ◽  
The Baltic

In fish, the lipid resources of the female form a link between the environment and progeny, contributing to the contents of the egg yolk. Variation of the environmental conditions is therefore expected to affect the egg quality via maternal pathways, reflecting the female’s response to the environmental factors before spawning. We investigated the content of lipids and thyroid hormones in the ovary and eggs of the Baltic herring during 1988–2019, when salinity of the Baltic Sea first declined and then stabilized to a lower level, and winters varied between severe and mild. The total lipid resources of spawning females decreased by 40–50% during the study, and the ovarian lipid concentration followed this trend resulting in a decrease of the lipid content of eggs. The concentration of thyroid hormones in the ovary suggested a hormonal response in females to salinity and winter temperature and was observable also in the content of thyroid hormones in the eggs. A change in the egg lipid content took place approximately around 1998 (SE ± 3 years) suggesting that in declining salinity, egg quality was associated with salinity and intrinsic factors in the female, i.e., fecundity and amount of lipids deposited into the ovary. However, during the period of stable salinity, egg quality was mainly limited by the female’s lipid resources. As also the body size of the females decreased over the years, it is suggested that small body size can be a key phenotypic trait to reduce the environmental impact on egg quality in variable environmental conditions.

Causes of variation in body size and consequences for the life history of Sitodiplosis mosellana

2004 ◽  
Vol 136 (6) ◽  
pp. 839-850 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.A.H. Smith ◽  
R.J. Lamb
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Larval Instar ◽  
Larval Density ◽  
Egg Parasitoid ◽  
The Body ◽  
Adult Size ◽  
Larval Size ◽  
Sitodiplosis Mosellana ◽  
Developing Seed

AbstractThe body sizes of mature larvae and adults from field and laboratory populations of the wheat midge, Sitodiplosis mosellana (Géhin) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), were measured to determine possible causes of variation in size and consequences of such variation through the life history. Mature larvae varied eightfold in mass. Female larvae were 80% heavier than males, on average. Variation in mass was associated with both the position of larvae on a wheat spike and the number feeding together on a developing seed. Larvae were 9% smaller when they developed on smaller, later developing seeds and 15%–18% smaller when they competed with five other larvae on an average-sized seed. Fewer small larvae survived winter. Larval density per infested seed increased with number of larvae per spike, suggesting that larval size may have density-dependent population effects. Small larvae produced few adults of Macroglenes penetrans (Kirby) (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae), an egg parasitoid that overwinters as a larva in the third larval instar of S. mosellana. These effects were probably due to size, but sex may also have been a factor. The size of adults, measured by wing and abdomen length, was also variable, although less so than the size of larvae. Adult size was not associated with time of emergence and both large and small females dispersed, but female fecundity (4–105 mature eggs per individual) increased with body size.

The characteristics of lifespan in Cheyletidae and its response to environmental factors

Zoosymposia ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
Author(s):  
ZEHUI ZHENG ◽  
BIN XIA
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Environmental Factors ◽  
Sex Difference ◽  
Growth And Development ◽  
Development Time ◽  
Abiotic Factors ◽  
Biotic And Abiotic Factors ◽  
The Family ◽  
Difference Temperature

This paper provides a survey of a collection of references on life history studies of eight species in the family Cheyletidae. It reviews some factors (including sex difference, temperature, humidity and prey) that affect the development time and lifespan in Cheyletidae. This paper also analyzes the effects these biotic and abiotic factors on the growth and development of cheyletid mites.

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