10.5061/DRYAD.H1S7B
Smith, Ashlee N.
Purdue University Calumet
Creighton, J. Curtis
Purdue University Calumet
Belk, Mark C.
Brigham Young University
Data from: Differences in patterns of reproductive allocation between the
sexes in Nicrophorus orbicollis
Dryad
dataset
2017
Nicrophorus orbicollis
2017-01-21T00:00:00Z
2017-01-21T00:00:00Z
en
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0143762
48408 bytes
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CC0 1.0 Universal (CC0 1.0) Public Domain Dedication
Organisms are selected to maximize lifetime reproductive success by
balancing the costs of current reproduction with costs to future survival
and fecundity. Males and females typically face different reproductive
costs, which makes comparisons of their reproductive strategies difficult.
Burying beetles provide a unique system that allows us to compare the
costs of reproduction between the sexes because males and females are
capable of raising offspring together or alone and carcass preparation and
offspring care represent the majority of reproductive costs for both
sexes. Because both sexes perform the same functions of carcass
preparation and offspring care, we predict that they would experience
similar costs and have similar life history patterns. In this study we
assess the cost of reproduction in male Nicrophorus orbicollis and compare
to patterns observed in females. We compare the reproductive strategies of
single males and females that provided pre- and post-hatching parental
care. There is a cost to reproduction for both males and females, but the
sexes respond to these costs differently. Females match brood size with
carcass size, and thus maximize the lifetime number of offspring on a
given size carcass. Males cull proportionately more offspring on all
carcass sizes, and thus have a lower lifetime number of offspring compared
to females. Females exhibit an adaptive reproductive strategy based on
resource availability, but male reproductive strategies are not adaptive
in relation to resource availability.
Plos Paper Lifetime DataIn this data file, Treatment 1 = 20g control
carcasses, 2 = 30g control carcasses, 3 = 30g->20g experimental
carcasses, 4 = 20g->30g experimental carcasses, and 7 = non
breeding individuals.Plos Paper Within Lifetime DataIn this data file,
carcass 1 = 20g control, carcass 2 = 30g control, carcass 3 =
30g->20g experimental, and carcass 4 = 20g->30g
experimental. Age is the number of the reproductive bout. Start brood is
the number of first install larvae, and final brood is the number of
eclosed adult offspring. Mindoffmass is the mean individual offspring mass
for each reproductive bout.