The relation between fecundity and reproductive investment in aphids (Aphis fabae).

Authors

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

RIS ID

55102

Publication Details

Ward, S. A., Dixon, A. F. G. & Wellings, P. W. (1983). The relation between fecundity and reproductive investment in aphids ( Aphis fabae).. Journal of Animal Ecology, 52 (2), 451-461.

Abstract

Mechanistic models of embryo growth are described and tested using the results of experiments on Aphis fabae. Increasing reproductive investment during nymphal development (measured as ovariole number) increases potential fecundity on nutrient-rich hosts. Increasing ovariole number increases the total cost of embryo maintenance and thus reduces the resources available for embryo growth. This means that on poor hosts the correlation between fecundity and ovariole number is negative.