Open AccessCaterpillars selected for large body size and short development time are more susceptible to oxygen‐related stress
Author(s) -
Harrison Jon F.,
Cease Arianne J.,
VandenBrooks John M.,
Albert Todd,
Davidowitz Goggy
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
ecology and evolution
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.17
H-Index - 63
ISSN - 2045-7758
DOI - 10.1002/ece3.551
Subject(s) - hyperoxia , hypoxia (environmental) , biology , juvenile , oxygen , oxidative stress , zoology , growth rate , control line , oxidative damage , physiology , andrology , ecology , endocrinology , chemistry , medicine , geometry , mathematics , transmission line , organic chemistry , engineering , electrical engineering
Abstract Recent studies suggest that higher growth rates may be associated with reduced capacities for stress tolerance and increased accumulated damage due to reactive oxygen species. We tested the response of M anduca sexta ( S phingidae) lines selected for large or small body size and short development time to hypoxia (10 kPa) and hyperoxia (25, 33, and 40 kPa); both hypoxia and hyperoxia reduce reproduction and oxygen levels over 33 kPa have been shown to increase oxidative damage in insects. Under normoxic (21 kPa) conditions, individuals from the large‐selected (big‐fast) line were larger and had faster growth rates, slightly longer developmental times, and reduced survival rates compared to individuals from a line selected for small size (small‐fast) or an unselected control line. Individuals from the big‐fast line exhibited greater negative responses to hyperoxia with greater reductions in juvenile and adult mass, growth rate, and survival than the other two lines. Hypoxia generally negatively affected survival and growth/size, but the lines responded similarly. These results are mostly consistent with the hypothesis that simultaneous acquisition of large body sizes and short development times leads to reduced capacities for coping with stressful conditions including oxidative damage. This result is of particular importance in that natural selection tends to decrease development time and increase body size.