Egg size and reproductive allocation in eusocial thrips

Reproductive allocation, in terms of fecundity and egg size,has been given little consideration in eusocial societies. Tobegin to address this, absolute and body size–adjustedegg volumes were compared, along with fecundity, between thefoundress and her subfertile soldier offspring in the eusocial,gall-inducing thrips, Kladothrips hamiltoni, Kladothrips waterhousei,and Kladothrips habrus, and a congeneric, Kladothrips morrisi,with fully fecund soldiers. Soldiers produced significantlylarger eggs than the foundress in all species except K. morrisi,where egg volumes did not differ. After accounting for bodysize, soldiers produced significantly smaller eggs than thefoundress in K. morrisi and marginally so in K. waterhousei,but egg sizes did not differ in K. hamiltoni and K. habrus.When egg size and fecundity data are combined, K. morrisi soldiersinvest less in reproduction than the foundress, and in conjunctionwith other life-history features the species can be consideredeusocial. Maximum likelihood analyses reveal relatively lowreproductive allocation skew in the ancestral lineages and highskew in the derived lineages, but the trend is not significantwhen fecundity and egg size are considered separately. Gallsize covaried negatively with soldier-to-foundress relativebody size–adjusted egg size and reproductive allocationand marginally so with fecundity, suggesting that gall sizeis a determinant of egg size and fecundity trade-offs in eusocialthrips and providing the strongest support to date that gallsize has featured in the social evolution of this clade. Thisstudy highlights that data on fecundity alone may be insufficientfor assessing reproductive division of labor.     

Reproductive variation and adult size in two co-occurring grasshopper species

ABSTRACT. 1. Egg sizes and clutch sizes of the grasshoppers Chorthippus brunneus (Thunb.) and Myrmeleotettix maculatus (Thunb.) were compared among three years and among three sites less than 1.3 km apart. Relationships between these reproductive traits and date of egg laying, body size and body condition were sought.
2. M.maculatus , the smaller species, laid fewer but larger eggs; and only the eggs of this species showed significant differences between sites and years.
3. A negative correlation between egg size and number per clutch was evident between species and years, but generally not among sites and among individuals of a population.
4. However, a hidden negative correlation between egg size and number was uncovered within populations when the relationship was examined for females of a given mature weight.
5. Variation in the number of eggs per clutch was explained statistically by a positive relationship between female body weight and egg number. Also, both interpopulation and intrapopulation comparisons revealed that for M.maculatus , but not for C.brunneus , females with long hind femurs laid large eggs.     

Regulatory Mechanisms of Reproductive Effort in Plants II. Plasticity in Reproductive Energy Allocation and Propagule Output of Glycine max Merr. (Leguminosae) Cultivated at Varying Densities and Nitrogen Levels

Abstract Plasticity in growth, reproductive energy allocation (RA), and reproductive output were studied in Glycine max Merr. Cv. Enrei (Leguminosae) grown under varying densities and soil nitrogen levels.
Marked plastic responses were detected in individual biomass, the patterns of resource allocation to total reproductive structures (RA) and also to propagules, reproductive outputs, and propagule weight under changing densities and soil nitrogen levels. Plants cultivated at higher densities exhibited proportionately lower individual biomass, lower RA, lower seed output, and smaller seed size in response to increasing density and decreasing soil nitrogen levels, although some deviations were observed, especially in the highest density plot with no fertilization. Differences due to different N-levels were not as great as those to changing density, which may in part be due to the fact that soybean has nitrogen-fixing bacteria in root tubercles, just as in any other Leguminosae. Fecundity was also maintained at the similar high rates of 80–97% in all plots examined, although slight but steady decreases were noted with increasing density. This resemblance in fecundity may be due to its strong inbreeding system.
Another important finding was that seed production under limited resource availability, notably lack of ample solar radiation due to strong interference at higher density plots, is exceedingly costly. This was most clearly exhibited by a sharp increase in relative energy partitioning to a single propagule in response to the increased density, the relative energy cost to a single propagule (RA) increasing from one to seven-fold. The results obtained in this study coincide well with the findings made in other plants, e.g., Helianthus annuus, Oryza sativa , and Coix ma-yuen , with the same experimental designs.     

Reproductive morphology, mating behavior, and spawning ecology of cephalaspid sea slugs (Aglajidae and Gastropteridae)

Abstract. Several recent experimental studies have assessed the behavioral reproductive ecology of four opisthobranch species belonging to the families Aglajidae and Gastropteridae (Cephalaspidea). In order to extend the scope of this earlier work, here we document the reproductive morphology and behavior of 36 taxa belonging to the same two sea slug families. Measurements focus on insemination patterns, spawning characteristics, as well as the size and shape of male and female reproductive organs (i.e., prostate, penis, bursa copulatrix, seminal receptacle). We found that behavioral and morphological traits vary considerably between species, even between closely related taxa. Mating behavior covers the full spectrum from unilateral to simultaneously reciprocal insemination and includes putatively antagonistic mechanisms such as hypodermic injection in some cases. With respect to morphology, particularly great variation was present in traits related to the male sexual function, such as prostate size and penis type. In traits associated with the female function, noticeable variation in those traits accessible for measurement was limited to the relative size of the sperm‐digesting bursa copulatrix. These data provide the basis for future comparative analyses on the evolution of reproductive characters in a phylogenetic context. We further explore the relationship between characteristics and body size. Our data corroborate previous findings that in species with exclusively planktotrophic development, investment per embryo (using mean egg diameter per species as a proxy) is independent of mean species body size. In contrast to egg size, spawn weight and the number of eggs per spawn tightly increased with body size, both within and among species. Hence, larger individuals among planktotrophs increased reproductive investment by increasing offspring quantity rather than investing more into each single offspring. Comparably large eggs with few eggs per spawn in our only two species with facultatively intracapsular metamorphosis are also consistent with findings in other opisthobranchs.     

Regulatory Mechanisms of Reproductive Effort in Plants 1. Plasticity in Reproductive Energy Allocation and Propagule Output of Helianthus annuus L. (Compositae) Cultivated at Varying Densities and Nitrogen Levels

Abstract Plasticity in growth, reproductive energy allocation (RA), and reproductive output were investigated in Helianthus annuus L. cultivar. Russia (Compositae) grown under varying densities and soil nitrogen levels. The role and behaviour of pollinators in seed production was also examined.
Exceedingly marked plastic responses were detected in individual biomass, the patterns of resource allocation to total reproductive structures (RA) and also to propagules, fecundity, reproductive outputs, and propagule size and weight under changing densities and soil nitrogen levels. Plants cultivated at higher densities exhibited proportionately lower individual biomass, lower RA, lower fecundity, lower seed output, and smaller seed size in response to increasing density and decreasing soil nitrogen levels. However, differences due to different N-levels were not as great as those to changing density.
One of the most significant findings was that seed production under limited resource availability, i.e., lack of ample solar radiation and soil nutrients, due to strong interference at higher density plots, is exceedingly costlty , This was most clearly demonstrated by a very sharp increase in relative energy partitioning to a single propagule in response to the increased density and decreasing nitrogen levels, the relative energy cost to a single achcne (R_A) increasing from one to twenty-fourfold. Reproduction was also affected by pollinator-limitations, and seed size showed a marked position effect.     

Seasonal growth and reproductive ecology of two threatened aquatic macrophytes, Blyxa aubertii and B. echinosperma (Hydrocharitaceae), in irrigation ponds of south-western Japan

Ecological life history and reproductive traits of two threatened aquatic macrophytes, Blyxa aubertii L.C. Richard and B. echinosperma (Clarke) Hooker, were studied in irrigation ponds in south-western Japan. The size of plants varied greatly in both species but reproductive allocation was nearly constant irrespective of plant size at reproductive stage, amounting to 31.8% and 45.9% at maximum in B. aubertii and B. echinosperma, respectively. The number of flowers and total number of seeds produced per individual were associated significantly with plant size. Seeds were produced by self-pollination both in emerged and submerged cleistogamous flowers and seed set rate of the two species was very high. These traits are considered to be adaptive to unstable environments that are liable to water level fluctuations, such as rice-fields and irrigation ponds.     

多年生龙胆属植物个体大小与花期资源分配研究

于各物种花中前期对青藏高原东部高寒草甸6种多年生龙胆属植物花期的繁殖分配和性分配进行分析,结果表明:(1)多年生龙胆属植物的植株个体越大,繁殖投入越高,繁殖分配越低;(2)随着植物个体的增大,对雌性、雄性和吸引结构的投入都在增加,这可保证资源的充分利用,不会因为单一部分的增加而造成资源的浪费;(3)6种龙胆属植物中,有4种其性分配结果与性别分配(SDS)的理论预测一致,即大个体更偏向雌性器官的资源投入,但麻花艽(Gentiana atraminea)和达乌里秦艽(Gentiana dahurica)的性分配与个体大小则没有表现出负相关,可能与其本身具有的雌雄异熟———雄性先熟特点有关;(4)资源在雌雄功能间的分配没有表现出权衡关系,可能是由于植物必须在许多不同生活史性状之间进行资源分配,而不是两两之间非此即彼.     

Reproductive ecology of three rare North American Pinguicula species

Pinguicula (Lentibulariaceae) is a genus of more than 100 carnivorous plant species. A handful of comprehensive studies have examined the reproductive ecology of these species, mostly in Europe and none in the USA. During 2013–2016 different aspects of the reproductive ecology of P. ionantha, P. lutea and P. planifolia were studied at multiple locations in the Florida Panhandle, USA. All three species are of conservation concern within the study region and some aspects of their reproductive ecology may be contributing to their rarity. For all species, we conducted breeding system studies investigating xenogamy vs. autogamy, self‐incompatibility vs. self‐compatibility, pollen:ovule ratios, flower phenology and longevity, and pollinator visitation, as well as fruit and seed set differences among populations. All three Pinguicula species were determined to be xenogamous and self‐compatible, although the pollen:ovule ratios were extremely low. In addition, these species have floral nastic movements and flower longevity that ranges from 2 to 3 weeks depending on the species. Hymenoptera was identified as the primary group of pollinators visiting all species, although observed visitation events were low. All three Pinguicula species had extremely high levels of fruit set and seed set. Worldwide, Pinguicula species share similar breeding system and reproductive patterns. The rare status of P. ionantha, P. lutea and P. planifolia is more likely due to their ecological requirements, demographics and/or patterns of genetic diversity, than reproduction. This work is among the first and most comprehensive associated with the reproductive ecology of North American Pinguicula.     

Reproductive ecology of the endangered Alpine species Eryngium alpinum L. (Apiaceae): phenology, gene dispersal and reproductive success

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Eryngium alpinum (Apiaceae) is an endangered perennial, characteristic of the Alpine flora. Because the breeding system influences both demographic (reproductive success) and genetic (inbreeding depression, evolutionary potential) parameters that are crucial for population maintenance, the reproductive ecology of E. alpinum was investigated. Specifically, the aims of the study were (1) to determine the factors (resources and/or pollen) limiting plant fitness; and (2) to assess the potential for gene flow within a plant, within a patch of plants, and across a whole valley where the species is abundant. METHODS: Field experiments were performed at two sites in the Fournel valley, France, over three consecutive years. Studies included a phenological survey, observations of pollinators (visitation rates and flight distances), dispersal of a fluorescent powder used as a pollen analogue, the use of seed traps, determination of the pollen/ovule ratio, and an experiment to test whether seed production is limited by pollen and/or by resources. KEY RESULTS: E. alpinum is pollinated by generalist pollinators, visitation rates are very high and seed set is resource- rather than pollen-limited. The short flights of honeybees indicate a high potential for geitonogamy, and low pollen and seed dispersals suggest strong genetic structure over short distances. These results are interpreted in the light of previous molecular markers studies, which, in contrast, showed complete outcrossing and high genetic homogeneity. CONCLUSION:S. The study highlights the usefulness of adopting several complementary approaches to understanding the dynamic processes at work in natural populations, and the conservation implications for E. alpinum are emphasized. Although the studied populations do not seem threatened in the near future, long-term monitoring appears necessary to assess the impact of habitat fragmentation. Moreover, this study provides useful baseline data for future investigations in smaller and more isolated populations.     

Reproductive investment of several rotifer species

A comparative study was carried out on the seasonal variation in egg and body volumes of four species of rotifers, Brachionus calyciflorus, Brachionus angularis, Keratella quadrata and Anuraeopsis fissa, from ponds near Sevilla and in Doñana National Park. Temperature and food concentration significantly affected egg volume in all four species; clutch size significantly affected egg volume in A. fissa, B. calyciflorus and B. angularis, but not in K. quadrata. As temperature increased, egg and body volumes declined in A. fissa and B. angularis but increased in K. quadrata and B. calyciflorus due, perhaps, to complex interactions between temperature, food level and clutch size.All four rotifer species responded similarly to changes in food concentration: below a certain food level, egg and body volumes were small but increased to a maximal size, which differed in the four species, as the food concentration was raised. At higher food levels, there was a reduction in egg and body volumes. The food levels for maximum egg and body volumes are interpreted as optimal ones; below these, food limitation reduces the size of the reproducing adult and, consequently, the size of eggs. Above this optimal level, higher food levels accelerated the rotifer life cycles, resulting in adults maturing at smaller sizes with a larger number of smaller eggs.     

Optimal resource allocation of the marine bivalve Yoldia notabilis: The effects of size-limited reproductive capacity and size-dependent mortality

The effects of the morphological constraint of maximum reproductive output (reproductive capacity) and the size at which individuals can avoid heavy mortality (refuge size) on the resource allocation pattern between growth and reproduction are investigated using a dynamic modelling approach for a population of Yoldia notabilis (Mollusca: Bivalvia) in Otsuchi Bay, northeastern Japan. A state variable model is developed using field data on shell length, somatic weight, production, survivorship and reproductive capacity of the bivalve. The optimal allocation pattern is characterized by sudden switching from growth to reproduction without the assumption of reproductive capacity, while simultaneous investment in growth and reproduction becomes optimal when maximum reproductive output is limited by reproductive capacity. Size-specific reproductive effort, size at maturity and the growth curve predicted by the latter model fit more closely to the field data, suggesting that size-limited reproductive capacity can play an important role in the evolution of the observed resource allocation pattern. The mortality pattern affects optimal size at maturity, but not size-specific reproductive effort after maturity. When refuge size is fixed, optimal size at maturity increases with survivorship above refuge size. Optimal size at maturity changes in a more complex way with changes in refuge size. Size at maturity remains constant when refuge size is small, increases when it is intermediate, and decreases when it is large. The results suggest that refuge size is an important factor in the evolution of size at maturity, although its contribution varies depending on the values of other factors, such as size-dependent production and survivorship above refuge size. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Ovoviviparity and viviparity in the Diptera

The taxonomic distribution and evolution of viviparity in Diptera is critically reviewed. The phenomenon ranges from ovoviviparity (eggs deposited at an advanced stage of embryonic development; larva emerges immediately after deposition), through viviparity (larva hatches inside female before deposition) to pupiparity (offspring deposited as pupa). Some Diptera are known to be facultatively viviparous, which is hypothesized to be a step towards the evolution of obligate viviparity. Obligate viviparity is found to comprise unilarviparity (single large larva in maternal uterus) which evolved many times independently, the rare oligolarviparity (more than one but not more than 12 larvae) and multilarviparity (large numbers of developing eggs or larvae in uterus) which is typical for the two largest clades of viviparous Diptera. Unilarviparity is either lecithotrophic (developing larva nourished by yolk of egg) or pseudo-placental (larva nourished by glandular secretions of mother). Viviparity has clearly evolved on many separate occasions in Diptera. It is recorded in 22 families, and this review identifies at least 61 independent origins of viviparity. Six families appear to have viviparity in their ground-plan. Some families have a single evolution of viviparity, others multiple evolutions. Guimaraes' model for the evolution of viviparity in Diptera is tested against phylogenetic information and the adaptive significance of viviparity is reviewed in detail. Possible correlations with life-history parameters (coprophily, parasitism, breeding in ephemeral plant parts, malacophagy and adult feeding habits – especially haematophagy) are analysed critically, as are potential advantages (shorter larval life, less investment in yolk by mother, protection of vulnerable stages, better access to breeding substrates, predation on competitors). Morphological constraints, adaptations and exaptations are reviewed, including the provision of an incubation space for the egg(s), the positioning of the egg(s) in the uterus, and maternal glands. The main morphological adaptations include greater egg size, reduction of egg respiratory filaments, thinning of chorion, modified larval respiratory system and mouthparts, and instar skipping. Female morphology and behaviour is particularly strongly modified for viviparity. The terminalia are shortened, the vagina is more muscular and tracheated, and the ovaries of unilarviparous species have a reduced number of ovarioles with alternate ovulation. Many of the final conclusions are tentative, and a plea is made for more detailed morphological and experimental study of many of the viviparous species. Viviparity in Diptera provides a fascinating example of multiple parallel evolution, and a fertile field for future research.     

古尔班通古特沙漠三种生境下梭梭种群的生殖分配特征

对古尔班通古特沙漠梭梭种群进行样地调查,从各构件生物量分配特征、开花和结果特征、不同发育阶段的生殖分配、同化枝与生殖生物量之间关系等方面研究了3种生境下梭梭种群的生殖分配特征。结果表明:3种生境中各构件生物量分配格局均具有显著差异,且变化趋势不一致,梭梭平均生殖分配在0.64%～1.5%;3种生境下,梭梭开花和结果特征均具有显著差异,表现出砾石生境>沙质生境>土质生境。不同生境梭梭生殖分配均随径级的增加变化不同,砾石生境和沙质生境样地随着径级的增加而降低,而土质生境样地随着径级的增加而增加;不同生境类型下梭梭同化枝、生殖生物量与径级的关系不同;梭梭的生殖分配和同化枝生物量之间呈线性或多项式正相关。     

Reproductive allocation and fruit-set pattern in the euhalophyte Suaeda salsa in controlled and field conditions

Reproductive allocation and fruit-set pattern are important characteristics of halophytes, and these characteristics were investigated in euhalophyte Suaeda salsa (S. salsa). The plants comprised of those treated with 1 mM (control) or 500 mM (high salinity) of NaCl for 120 days in a glasshouse and those collected in the field. In controlled conditions, high salinity increased reproductive allocation and the number of fruits and seeds in each node of the branches. In field conditions, reproductive allocation and the number of fruits and brown seeds in S. salsa at the upper tide line were higher than at the lower tide line. There were more fruits and seeds distributed in the central part than those in the base or top of branches in both controlled and field conditions. Soil organic matter, total nitrogen and total phosphorus content at the upper tide line were lower than at the lower tide line. An opposite trend could be observed in the total soluble salt, Na⁺ and Cl^? content in soil. In conclusion, the fruit-set pattern of S. salsa may be affected by both resource constraints and resource allocation. Reproductive allocation and fruit-set pattern may ensure the establishment of S. salsa in high saline and low nutrient environments.     

Branching habit and the allocation of reproductive resources in conifers

Background and Aims Correlated relationships between branch thickness, branch density, and twig and leaf size have been used extensively to study the evolution of plant canopy architecture, but fewer studies have explored the impact of these relationships on the allocation of reproductive resources. This study quantifies pollen cone production in conifers, which have similar basic reproductive biology but vary dramatically in branching habit, in order to test how differences in branch diameter influence pollen cone size and the density with which they are deployed in the canopy. Methods Measurements of canopy branch density, the number of cones per branch and cone size were used to estimate the amount of pollen cone tissues produced by 16 species in three major conifer clades. The number of pollen grains produced was also estimated using direct counts from individual pollen cones. Key Results The total amount of pollen cone tissues in the conifer canopy varied little among species and clades, although vegetative traits such as branch thickness, branch density and pollen cone size varied over several orders of magnitude. However, branching habit controls the way these tissues are deployed: taxa with small branches produce small pollen cones at a high density, while taxa with large branches produce large cones relatively sparsely. Conclusions Conifers appear to invest similar amounts of energy in pollen production independent of branching habit. However, similar associations between branch thickness, branch density and pollen cone size are seen across conifers, including members of living and extinct groups not directly studied here. This suggests that reproductive features relating to pollen cone size are in large part a function of the evolution of vegetative morphology and branching habit.     

Roots, shoots and reproduction: sexual dimorphism in size and costs of reproductive allocation in an annual herb

Females tend to be smaller than males in woody dioecious plant species, but they tend to be larger in herbs. The smaller size of females in woody species has been attributed to higher reproductive costs, yet no satisfactory explanation has been provided for their larger size in herbs. Because herbs have higher nitrogen concentrations in their tissues than woody plants, and because pollen is particularly rich in nitrogen, we predicted that male growth would be more compromised by reproduction than female growth. To test this hypothesis, we conducted three experiments on the annual dioecious herb Mercurialis annua. First, we compared the timing of reproduction between males and females and found that males started flowering earlier than females; early flowering is expected to compromise growth more than later flowering. Second, we compared plants allowed to flower with those prevented from flowering by experimental debudding and found that males incurred a higher reproductive cost than females in terms of both biomass and, particularly, nitrogen. Third, we grew plants under varying levels of nitrogen availability and found that although sexual size dimorphism was unaffected by nitrogen, females, but not males, decreased their relative allocation to both roots and reproduction under high nitrogen availability. We propose that males deal with the high cost of pollen production in terms of nitrogen by allocating biomass to nitrogen-harvesting roots, whereas females pay for carbon-rich seeds and fruits by investing in photosynthetic organs. Sexual dimorphism would thus seem to be the outcome of allocation to above- versus below-ground sinks that supply resources (carbon versus nitrogen) limiting the female and male reproduction differentially.