10.5061/DRYAD.466K2SQ
Geiger, Rina
University of Greifswald
Beaulieu, Michaƫl
University of Greifswald
Franke, Kristin
University of Greifswald
Fischer, Klaus
University of Greifswald
Data from: High male density favors maintenance over reproduction in a
butterfly
Dryad
dataset
2018
resource-allocation trade-off
butterfly
social plasticity
courtship behavior
intra-specific competition
Bicyclus anynana
2018-04-24T13:07:11Z
2018-04-24T13:07:11Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1093/beheco/ary073
26935 bytes
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CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
Environmental factors exert strong effects on phenotypic expression. A
particularly intriguing factor capable of inducing such plastic responses
is the social environment experienced by a specific individual. Such
social effects may alter the fitness of focal individuals if they affect
the expression of reproductive traits and thus life-history strategies. To
examine this question, we investigated the effects of individual density
on morphology, reproduction, and behavior of male Bicyclus anynana
butterflies. Increasing density significantly increased male body mass and
the probability to succeed in aggressive interactions, and tended to
increase abdomen fat content. At the same time, increasing density
significantly decreased courtship activity and tended to decrease sperm
number. These results suggest that individual density seemed to induce
differential strategic investment into survival and somatic maintenance
versus reproduction in male butterflies. Males kept at high densities
apparently favored high body mass and storage, which may enable longer
survival during times of intense intra-specific competition. Moreover,
their competitiveness was enhanced as suggested by a higher success in
aggressive interactions. Males kept at low density, in contrast, favored
reproduction through increased courtship activity and sperm production.
Our study illustrates that the effects of density on the expression of
morphological and behavioral traits are complex and difficult to predict,
owing to resource-allocation trade-offs resulting in prudent strategic
investment.
GeigerFile includes all original data relevant to the publication.