Prey life history influences the evolution of egg mass and reproductive
investment in a group of insect predators
- Jean-Louis Hemptinne,
- Emilie Lecompte,
- Arnaud Sentis,
- Anthony Dixon,
- Alexandra Magro
Alexandra Magro
Université Fédérale Toulouse Midi-Pyrénées
Author ProfileAbstract
1. The balance between risk and benefit of exploiting resources drives
life history evolution. Predators are naturally recognized as major
drivers of the life history evolution of their prey. The concept of an
evolutionary arms race posits that prey also influence the life history
evolution of their predators. There is far more evidence on the role of
predators than of prey. 2. The goal of this study was to investigate the
role of prey in life history evolution of predators using ladybird
beetle predators either of aphids or coccids. These particular organisms
were chosen because literature shows that the pace of life of aphids is
faster than that of coccids and this difference is reflected in the life
histories of the ladybirds that specialize on feeding on aphids or
coccids. 3. Thirty-four species of ladybird predators of aphids and
eight of coccids belonging to five different tribes were collected and
reared in the laboratory. The females were weighed as well as their
eggs, and their reproductive investment calculated as the number of
ovarioles multiplied by the average mass of an egg. Phylogenetic
relatedness was controlled for in the statistical analyses. 4.
Controlling for female mass revealed that ladybird predators of aphids
lay bigger eggs and have a higher reproductive investment than ladybird
predators of coccids. These differences are not influenced by
phylogenetic relatedness but only by the type of prey. We suggest that
ladybird predators of coccids lay smaller eggs because neonate larvae do
not have to search, catch and subdue prey, and that they have a smaller
reproductive investment because they need to allocate more resources to
locate prey. 5. Recognizing the influence of prey on the life history
evolution of predators is important for understanding food web dynamics.16 Apr 2021Submitted to Ecology and Evolution 17 Apr 2021Submission Checks Completed
17 Apr 2021Assigned to Editor
21 Apr 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
20 May 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
25 May 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
21 Oct 20211st Revision Received
22 Oct 2021Submission Checks Completed
22 Oct 2021Assigned to Editor
22 Oct 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
28 Oct 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
15 Nov 20212nd Revision Received
16 Nov 2021Assigned to Editor
16 Nov 2021Submission Checks Completed
16 Nov 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
19 Nov 2021Editorial Decision: Accept