Premium
Polymorphism of competition type and its genetics in Callosobruchus maculatus (Coleoptera: Bruchidae)
Author(s) -
Takano M.,
Toquenaga Y.,
Fujii K.
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
population ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.819
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1438-390X
pISSN - 1438-3896
DOI - 10.1007/s10144-001-8190-8
Subject(s) - contest , scramble competition , callosobruchus maculatus , biology , competition (biology) , zoology , ecology , botany , pest analysis , political science , law
Callosobruchus maculatus has both contest and scramble competition strategies. The currently existing theoretical models using game theory suggest that the contest strategy should be selected for. However, most geographic strains of C. maculatus show scramble competition. We experimentally crossed the representative strains of contest and scramble. We expressed the degree of contest competition by a continuous value named the C ‐value, which ranges from zero (pure scramble) to unity (pure contest). The competition types expressed in the C ‐value were genetically additive. Their larval developmental rates were negatively correlated with C ‐values. Multiple‐generation experiments of the mixed strains confirmed that there were no overwhelming advantages of contest over scramble type. Most of the mixed strains remained in the intermediate states. We discuss the results in terms of the resource size necessary for developmental success and developmental speed.