Intra- and trans-generational costs of reduced female body size caused by food limitation early in life in mites.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Food limitation early in life may be compensated for by developmental plasticity resulting in accelerated development enhancing survival at the expense of small adult body size. However and especially for females in non-matching maternal and offspring environments, being smaller than the standard may incur considerable intra- and trans-generational costs.

Methodology/principal findings

Here, we evaluated the costs of small female body size induced by food limitation early in life in the sexually size-dimorphic predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis. Females are larger than males. These predators are adapted to exploit ephemeral spider mite prey patches. The intra- and trans-generational effects of small maternal body size manifested in lower maternal survival prob

SUBMITTER: Walzer A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3827130 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature