Intraspecific competition in Zabrotes subfasciatus： Physiological and behavioral adaptations to different amounts of host

• Published in: Insect science Vol. 19; no. 1; pp. 102 - 111
• Main Authors: Teixeira, Isabel R.V., Zucoloto, Fernando S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Melbourne, Australia Blackwell Publishing Asia 01.02.2012
• Subjects: bean weevil; Coleoptera; egg distribution; oviposition; Phaseolus vulgaris; phenotypic plasticity; Zabrotes subfasciatus; 主机; 产卵行为; 同数; 生理反应; 种内竞争; 种子数量; 行为适应; 高繁殖力
• ISSN: 1672-9609; 1744-7917
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1744-7917.2011.01425.x

The effects of competition on populations of the bean weevil Zabrotes sub- fasciatus were analyzed during 41 generations under different competition levels. Three competition environments were established by maintaining the number of couples （6） and varying the amount of available host seeds： HC, high （limited availability of host： 1.35 g）; IC, intermediate （intermediate availability of host： 6 g）; and LC, low competition （abun- dance of host： 36 g）. It was found that the distribution of the eggs laid on grains was different among treatments： in LC, for example, although females showed high fecundity （35.4 ± 5.6 eggs/female） the number of eggs laid on each grain was small （1.2 ± 0.4 eggs on each seed）, thus avoiding larval competition of their offspring; whereas in HC treatment, females showed low fecundity （27.04 ± 4.5 eggs/female） but laid many eggs on each grain （15.03 ± 4.3 eggs）. There were no changes in the ability to respond to different amounts of host via oviposition behavior （egg distribution） during 41 generations. How- ever, HC females had more offspring than LC females under HC conditions. This suggests that HC insects evolved toward higher fitness in crowded conditions. In addition, after inverting the competition level, insects behaved independently of the treatment conditions they experienced through generations, thus showing that oviposition behavior is flexible. Taken together, our results show that Z. subfasciatus presents a broad range of behavioral and physiological responses which allows for quick and reversible adjustments to sudden changes in the amount of resources.