Bridging developmental boundaries: lifelong dietary patterns modulate life histories in a parthenogenetic insect.

ABSTRACT: Determining the effects of lifelong intake patterns on performance is challenging for many species, primarily because of methodological constraints. Here, we used a parthenogenetic insect (Carausius morosus) to determine the effects of limited and unlimited food availability across multiple life-history stages. Using a parthenogen allowed us to quantify intake by juvenile and adult females and to evaluate the morphological, physiological, and life-history responses to intake, all without the confounding influences of pair-housing, mating, and male behavior. In our study, growth rate prior to reproductive maturity was positively correlated with both adult and reproductive lifespans but negatively correlated with total lifespan. Food limitation had opposing effects on lifespan depending on w

SUBMITTER: Roark AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4218793 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature