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Ovarian dynamics in relation to host quality in the Walnut‐infesting Fly, Rhagoletis juglandis
Author(s) -
PAPAJ D. R.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
functional ecology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.272
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1365-2435
pISSN - 0269-8463
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2435.2005.00993.x
Subject(s) - biology , host (biology) , larva , zoology , insect , competition (biology) , abundance (ecology) , reproductive success , juvenile , avian clutch size , ecology , reproduction , population , demography , sociology
Summary1 Reproductive behaviour is routinely studied with a view towards characterizing how an animal responds to variation in resource abundance and quality. This characterization is less commonly made with respect to reproductive physiology. 2 In the Walnut‐infesting Fly, Rhagoletis juglandis , ovarian development is cued by the presence of the host fruit resource. In this study, I examined how ovarian development was affected by two host characteristics that relate to competition in the juvenile stages: fruit size and presence of conspecific larvae. 3 Large fruit promoted egg maturation more than small fruit, and uninfested fruit promoted maturation more than larval‐infested fruit. Both effects were reproduced with artificial models of fruit. 4 The functional significance of these effects and ramifications for individual‐level dynamics in oviposition behaviour are discussed.