The Delayed Effect on Adult Fertility of Immature Crowding: Population Dynamics

Abstract

It is well known that in many species of insects and other organisms that the environmental conditions of immatures — larvae, nymphs — have permanent effects which persist into the adult stage of the life history (Anderson and Cummins 1979, Azam and Anderson 1969, Bates 1949, Brown and Chippendale 1973, Caligari 1980, Citus 1935, Dunlap-Pianka et al. 1979, Englemann 1970, Harshman 1983, Howard 1978, Istock 1966, Lloyd and White 1976, Marks 1982, Marlatt 1907, Otto 1974, Pritchard 1978, Ryan 1941, Southwood 1966, Steinwascher 1978, Sweeney and Vannote 1978, Uhlenhuth 1919, Vannote 1978, Ward and Cummins 1979, Wilbur 1977, Wilbur and Collins 1973). Relevant to population dynamics, the adult fertility component of growth can be affected by limiting resources of immatures. For example, it is abundantly documented in the Drosophila literature that the degree of larval crowding not only affects larval survival, but also affects the size and fertility of the resulting adult females (see below, for citations). Crowded larvae result in females with fewer ovarioles (Nöthel, pers. comm.).