Sexual selection and male body size plasticity in mites
Abstract
Developmental plasticity in life history traits such as age and size at maturity allows organisms to adaptively match trait expression to environmental gradients. Most arthropods incl. mites are sexually dimorphic with females being larger than males. It is commonly acknowledged that sexual size dimorphism and sex-specific differences in size plasticity are due to differential but interrelated selective forces. Female body size is primarily fecundity selected while male body size is primarily sexually selected. We recently examined sex-specific body size plasticity in two predatory mite species, Phytoseiulus persimilis and Neoseiulus californicus. Our study revealed that both species are similarly plastic in female body size but male P. persimilis are much less plastic in size than male N. californicus. We hypothesize that this difference is mainly due to different mating systems and associated male mating opportunities. Males of both species are similarly polygynous. However, P. persimilis females are low level polyandrous – they re-mate occasionally but need only a single mating to achieve maximum egg production - while N. californicus are high level polyandrous – they mate repeatedly throughout life and need multiple matings for maximum egg production. Consequently, P. persimilis females have a lower lifetime mating frequency than N. californicus females, which reduces the number of mating opportunities for males and makes missed matings more costly for male P. persimilis than male N. californicus. Based on this hypothesis we propose to scrutinize and compare the fitness consequences of male body size plasticity in P. persimilis and N. californicus. In cooperation with a colleague from Kyoto University, Japan, who is a specialist in molecular ecology of mites, we plan to conduct four experimental series on (1) lifetime mating frequency and reproductive success of small and large males, (2) paternity success and male mating sequence, (3) female choice/male competition and male body size plasticity, and (4) paternity success of small and large males when females mate multiply. The outcome of our proposal should advance our understanding of the selective forces shaping life history plasticity, lead to the development of novel molecular markers for mites, and in a broad sense contribute to improve the use of P. persimilis and N. californicus as biocontrol agents of herbivorous mites and insects.
phenotypic plasticity life history sexual selection predatory mites biological control
Publikationen
Body size matters in male lifetime reproductive success of the predatory mites Phytoseiulus persimilis and Neoseiulus californicus
Autoren: Walzer, A. & Schausberger, P. Jahr: 2012
Conference & Workshop proceedings, paper, abstract
Species-specific relevance of male body size in the mating behaviour of Phytoseiulus persimilis and Neoseiulus californicus
Autoren: Walzer, A and Schausberger, P. Jahr: 2013
Conference & Workshop proceedings, paper, abstract
Contrasting patterns of remating, paternity and reproductive success in polyandrous Neoseiulus californicus and Phytoseiulus persimilis
Autoren: Schausberger, P; Patino-Ruiz, JD; Osakabe, M; Murata, Y; Sugimoto, Y; Uesugi, R; Walzer, A Jahr: 2014
Conference & Workshop proceedings, paper, abstract
Sex-specific body size effects on mating behavior of the predatory mites Phytoseiulus persimilis and Neoseiulus californicus
Autoren: Walzer, A; Schausberger, P. Jahr: 2014
Conference & Workshop proceedings, paper, abstract
Sexual selection of male body size plasticity in predatory mites: strong canalization suggests high fitness relevance
Autoren: Walzer, A; Schausberger, P Jahr: 2014
Conference & Workshop proceedings, paper, abstract
Project staff
Andreas Walzer
Mag. Dr. Andreas Walzer
andreas.walzer@boku.ac.at
Tel: +43 1 47654-95308
Project Staff
01.06.2011 - 30.06.2015
BOKU partners
External partners
Kyoto University, School of Agriculture
none
partner