Age, but not an immune challenge, triggers terminal investment in the Pacific field cricket, Teleogryllus oceanicus.

ABSTRACT: The terminal investment hypothesis proposes that, when individuals are faced with a threat to survival, they will increase investment in current reproduction. The level of the threat necessary to elicit terminal investment (the dynamic terminal investment threshold) may vary based on other factors that also influence future reproduction. Here, we tested whether there is an interactive effect of age and an immune challenge on the dynamic terminal investment threshold in the Pacific field cricket, Teleogryllus oceanicus. We measured the courtship call, mating attractiveness, ejaculate size, and offspring production of T. oceanicus males. We found only limited support for the dynamic terminal investment threshold: there was no consistent evidence of a positive interaction betwee

SUBMITTER: Rutkowski NJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10183208 | biostudies-literature | 2023 May-Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature