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Habitat quality and reproductive investment in aphids
Author(s) -
WALTERS K. F. A.,
BROUGH C.,
DIXON A. F. G.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
ecological entomology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.865
H-Index - 81
eISSN - 1365-2311
pISSN - 0307-6946
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2311.1988.tb00364.x
Subject(s) - ovariole , biology , offspring , zoology , range (aeronautics) , parthenogenesis , host (biology) , botany , ecology , pregnancy , fishery , embryo , genetics , materials science , oocyte , composite material
.1 Genetically identical vetch aphids, Megoura viciae (Buckton), showed a weak but significant positive relationship between reproductive investment (number of ovarioles) and weight, here used as an indicator of habitat quality. 2 Apterae reared on poor quality plants showed the same range in numbers (twelve to twenty‐two) but on average fewer ovarioles than those reared on high quality plants. 3 The variability in ovariole number was determined prior to birth. 4 Under constant conditions the age of a mother does not affect the range of ovariole numbers or the proportion of her offspring in each ovariole class. 5 Apterae reared on poor quality host plants gave birth to proportionately fewer offspring with a high ovariole number than apterae reared on high quality plants. 6 Winged individuals gave birth to proportionately more offspring with a high number of ovarioles than apterae. 7 The control and ecological significance of the intramorph variation in reproductive tactics shown by many species of aphids is discussed in the light of these results.