Variation in mandible development and its relationship to dependence on parents across burying beetles.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In species with parental care, there is striking variation in offspring dependence at birth, ranging from feeding independence to complete dependency on parents for nutrition. Frequently, highly dependent offspring further evolve reductions or alterations of morphological traits that would otherwise promote self-sufficiency. Here, we examine evidence for morphological evolution associated with dependence in burying beetles (Nicrophorus spp.), in which dependence upon parents appears to have several independent origins. In many species, precocial first instar larvae can survive without parenting, but several altricial species die at this stage on their own. We focused specifically on the mandibles, which are expected to be related to feeding ability and therefore i

SUBMITTER: Benowitz KM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6308864 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature