The effect of reproductive investment on pre-reproductive mortality in aphids

Authors

S. A. Ward, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK
Paul W. Wellings, CSIRO, AustraliaFollow
A. F. G. Dixon, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UKFollow

RIS ID

55095

Publication Details

Ward, S. A., Wellings, P. W. & Dixon, A. F. G. (1983). The effect of reproductive investment on pre-reproductive mortality in aphids. Journal of Animal Ecology, 52 (1), 305-313.

Abstract

(1) Ovariole number in the aphid Megoura viciae is a measure of the total reproductive investment during nymphal development. (2) Growth rate and ovariole number are not related. (3) On nutritionally poor hosts aphids with many ovarioles are less likely to survive to maturity than those with fewer ovarioles. (4) Pre-reproductive adults with few ovarioles are more resistant to starvation than those with many. (5) Pre-reproductive survival declines sigmoidally with increasing ovariole number.