scholarly journals A fitness trade-off between seasons causes multigenerational cycles in phenotype and population size

eLife ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gustavo S Betini ◽  
Andrew G McAdam ◽  
Cortland K Griswold ◽  
D Ryan Norris
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Life History ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Natural Selection ◽  
Density Dependence ◽  
Seasonal Changes ◽  
Population Cycles ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Viability Selection ◽  
Trade Offs

Although seasonality is widespread and can cause fluctuations in the intensity and direction of natural selection, we have little information about the consequences of seasonal fitness trade-offs for population dynamics. Here we exposed populations of Drosophila melanogaster to repeated seasonal changes in resources across 58 generations and used experimental and mathematical approaches to investigate how viability selection on body size in the non-breeding season could affect demography. We show that opposing seasonal episodes of natural selection on body size interacted with both direct and delayed density dependence to cause populations to undergo predictable multigenerational density cycles. Our results provide evidence that seasonality can set the conditions for life-history trade-offs and density dependence, which can, in turn, interact to cause multigenerational population cycles.

The trade-off of reproduction and survival in slow-breeding seabirds

2010 ◽  
Vol 88 (9) ◽  
pp. 889-899 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Stephen Dobson ◽  
Pierre Jouventin
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Life History Traits ◽  
Feeding Rate ◽  
Reproductive Effort ◽  
Original Data ◽  
Age At Maturity ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Regression Techniques

A trade-off between reproduction and survival is one of the most consistent empirical aspects of life-history diversification. One explanation for this interspecific pattern is evolved differences in the balance of allocation to reproduction versus individual maintenance and survival. The same pattern is expected, however, simply as a result of differences among species in body size. We tested these alternatives using original data from 44 species of albatrosses and petrels, long-lived seabirds that breed very slowly. After application of regression techniques to remove the effects of body size and phylogeny, annual reproduction and survival exhibited a significant trade-off. Our measures of reproductive effort also exhibited significant trade-offs with age at maturity, the latter strongly associated with survival. Feeding rate of chicks, success at fledging chicks, and annual chick production were also significantly associated. In conclusion, after removing the effects of body size, we found a significant trade-off of reproduction and survival, in spite of the fact that these long-lived birds lay only one egg at a time. Our examination of the pattern among life-history traits of these slow breeders and their pelagic feeding ecology provide support for the evolutionary explanation of a trade-off of reproduction and survival.

scholarly journals Larval density, temperature and biological aspects of Chrysomya megacephala (Diptera: Calliphoridae)

2006 ◽  
Vol 58 (4) ◽  
pp. 562-566 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Reigada ◽  
W.A.C. Godoy
Keyword(s):  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Life History ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Larval Density ◽  
Chrysomya Megacephala ◽  
Life History Characteristics ◽  
Two Temperatures ◽  
Biological Aspects ◽  
Experimental Populations ◽  
Simultaneous Influence

The effect of larval density on the survival, fecundity and body size at two temperatures in experimental populations of C. megacephala was studied. No effect from simultaneous influence of density and temperature on life history characteristics of C. megacephala was found. Significant effects of density and temperature on survival, fecundity and body size were observed. The importance of these results for the population dynamics of C. megacephala is discussed.

scholarly journals Enzymatic antioxidants but not baseline glucocorticoids mediate the reproduction–survival trade-off in a wild bird

2018 ◽  
Vol 285 (1892) ◽  
pp. 20182141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefania Casagrande ◽  
Michaela Hau
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Body Condition ◽  
Redox State ◽  
Reproductive Investment ◽  
Redox System ◽  
Reactive Oxygen Metabolites ◽  
Enzymatic Antioxidants ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Nest Provisioning

The trade-off between reproductive investment and survival is central to life-history theory, but the relative importance and the complex interactions among the physiological mechanisms mediating it are still debated. Here we experimentally tested whether baseline glucocorticoid hormones, the redox system or their interaction mediate reproductive investment–survival trade-offs in wild great tits ( Parus major ). We increased the workload of parental males by clipping three feathers on each wing, and 5 days later determined effects on baseline corticosterone concentrations (Cort), redox state (reactive oxygen metabolites, protein carbonyls, glutathione peroxidase [GPx], total non-enzymatic antioxidants), body mass, body condition, reproductive success and survival. Feather-clipping did not affect fledgling numbers, chick body condition, nest provisioning rates or survival compared with controls. However, feather-clipped males lost mass and increased both Cort and GPx concentrations. Within feather-clipped individuals, GPx increases were positively associated with reproductive investment (i.e. male nest provisioning). Furthermore, within all individuals, males that increased GPx suffered reduced survival rates. Baseline Cort increases were related to mass loss but not to redox state, nest provisioning or male survival. Our findings provide experimental evidence that changes in the redox system are associated with the trade-off between reproductive investment and survival, while baseline Cort may support this trade-off indirectly through a link with body condition. These results also emphasize that plastic changes in individuals, rather than static levels of physiological signals, may mediate life-history trade-offs.

Population dynamics of muskrats and mink: investigating contemporary patterns in a classic predator-prey system

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adam A Ahlers ◽  
Timothy P Lyons ◽  
Edward J Heske
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Population Dynamics ◽  
Density Dependence ◽  
American Mink ◽  
Population Cycles ◽  
The United States ◽  
Parameter Estimates ◽  
Predator Prey ◽  
Cycle Lengths ◽  
Southern Half

A well-studied predator-prey relationship between American mink (Neovison vison (Schreber, 1777)) and muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus (Linnaeus, 1766)) in Canada has advanced our understanding of population cycles including the influence of density dependence and lagged responses of predators to prey abundances. However, it is unclear if patterns observed in Canada extend across the southern half of their native range. We used data from the United States to create a 41-year time series of mink and muskrat harvest reports (1970-2011) for 36 states. After controlling for pelt-price effects, we used 2nd order autoregressive and Lomb-Scargle spectral density models to identify the presence and periodicity of muskrat population cycles. Additionally, we tested for evidence of delayed or direct density dependence and for predator-driven population dynamics. Our results suggest muskrat populations may cycle in parts of the United States; however, results varied by modeling approaches with Lomb-Scargle analyses providing more precise parameter estimates. Observed cycle lengths were longer than expected with weak amplitudes and we urge caution when interpreting these results. We did not detect evidence of a predator-prey relationship driven by a lagged numerical response of American mink. American mink and muskrat fur returns were largely correlated across the region suggesting extraneous factors likely synchronize both populations.

scholarly journals Warmer temperatures attenuate the classic offspring number and reproductive investment trade-off in the common lizard, Zootoca vivipara

2016 ◽  
Vol 12 (6) ◽  
pp. 20160101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexis Rutschmann ◽  
Donald B. Miles ◽  
Jean Clobert ◽  
Murielle Richard
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Life History Traits ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Offspring Number ◽  
Common Lizard ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Zootoca Vivipara ◽  
The Common

Life-history traits involved in trade-offs are known to vary with environmental conditions. Here, we evaluate the response of the trade-off between ‘offspring number’ versus ‘energy invested per offspring’ to ambient temperature in 11 natural populations of the common lizard, Zootoca vivipara . We provide evidence at both the intra- and interpopulation levels that the trade-off is reduced with an increase in air temperature. If this effect enhances current individual fitness, it may lead to an accelerated pace of life in warmer environments and could ultimately increase adult mortality. In the context of global warming, our results advocate the need for more studies in natural populations to explore interactions between life-history traits' trade-offs and environmental conditions.

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.

Intraspecific variation in reproductive effort by female Parapediasia teterrella (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) and its relation to body size

1990 ◽  
Vol 68 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Larry D. Marshall
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Egg Size ◽  
Reproductive Effort ◽  
Life History Evolution ◽  
Reproductive Parameters ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Egg Number ◽  
Lepidoptera Pyralidae

Daily egg production of the moth Parapediasia teterrella declined over the life-span of the female but egg size remained constant. The absence of water resulted in lower fecundity and early mortality. Egg size and lifetime fecundity showed considerable inter-individual variation and large females produced more and larger eggs than their smaller counterparts. Large females expended greater reproductive effort than small females. Hatching success was negatively related to egg size. In spite of this, large females laying large eggs had higher fitness than small females. I postulate that multiple reproductive strategies within a species, resulting from differences in reproductive effort expended, may explain why expected trade-offs in reproductive parameters (e.g., egg size versus egg number) were not found in this species. Furthermore, I argue that the prevalent interpretation of life-history evolution (that body size is the important determining parameter of life-history parameters) may reflect correlation of body size with reproductive effort, and reproductive effort may be more important in determining the nature of trade-offs between reproductive parameters.

scholarly journals Trade-off between age of first reproduction and survival in a female primate

2009 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 339-342 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gregory E. Blomquist
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Life History Theory ◽  
Rhesus Macaques ◽  
Human Study ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Adult Survival ◽  
Trade Off ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Female Life History ◽  
First Reproduction

Trade-offs are central to life-history theory but difficult to document. Patterns of phenotypic and genetic correlations in rhesus macaques, Macaca mulatta —a long-lived, slow-reproducing primate—are used to test for a trade-off between female age of first reproduction and adult survival. A strong positive genetic correlation indicates that female macaques suffer reduced adult survival when they mature relatively early and implies primate senescence can be explained, in part, by antagonistic pleiotropy. Contrasts with a similar human study implicate the extension of parental effects to later ages as a potential mechanism for circumventing female life-history trade-offs in human evolution.

scholarly journals Foundress Number, But Not Queen Size or Boldness, Predicts Colony Life-History in Wild Paper Wasps

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Colin M. Wright ◽  
David N. Fisher ◽  
Wayne V. Nerone ◽  
James L.L. Lichtenstein ◽  
Elizabeth A. Tibbetts ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Resource Allocation ◽  
Life History ◽  
Body Size ◽  
Life Histories ◽  
Life History Traits ◽  
Positive Association ◽  
Paper Wasps ◽  
Trade Offs ◽  
Behavioral Tendencies ◽  
Queen Size

AbstractColonies of social insects exhibit a spectacular variety of life histories. Here we documented the degree of variation in colony life-history traits, mostly related to productivity, in two species of wild paper wasps. We then tested for associations between colony life-history traits to look for trade-offs or positively associated syndromes, and examined whether individual differences in the behavioral tendencies of foundresses (Polistes metricus) or the number of cofoundresses (P. fuscatus) influenced colony life-history. The majority of our measures of colony life-history were positively related, indicating no obvious resource allocation trade-offs. Instead, the positive association of traits into a productivity syndrome appears to be driven by differences in queen or microhabitat quality. Syndrome structure differed only marginally between species. Queen boldness and body size were not associated with colony life-history inP. metricus. Colonies initiated by multipleP. fuscatusfoundresses were generally more productive, and this advantage was approximately proportional to the number of cofoundresses. These findings demonstrate that colony life-history traits can be associated together much like individual life-history traits, and the associations seen here convey that differences in overall productivity drive between-colony differences in life-history.

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