Effects of Increased Flight on the Energetics and Life History of the Butterfly Speyeria mormonia.

ABSTRACT: Movement uses resources that may otherwise be allocated to somatic maintenance or reproduction. How does increased energy expenditure affect resource allocation? Using the butterfly Speyeria mormonia, we tested whether experimentally increased flight affects fecundity, lifespan or flight capacity. We measured body mass (storage), resting metabolic rate and lifespan (repair and maintenance), flight metabolic rate (flight capacity), egg number and composition (reproduction), and food intake across the adult lifespan. The flight treatment did not affect body mass or lifespan. Food intake increased sufficiently to offset the increased energy expenditure. Total egg number did not change, but flown females had higher early-life fecundity and higher egg dry mass than control females. Egg dry mass

SUBMITTER: Niitepold K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4624906 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature