Physiological Basis of a Genetically-determined Life- history Trade-off

本提案的目标是解决生物生命史模式进化中的一个核心但鲜为人知的主题：一种能力相对于另一种能力的权衡是否源于生理水平上营养资源的权衡。具体而言，将考虑蟋蟀的飞行能力和繁殖产量之间的权衡。这个物种的个体以两种遗传决定的形式之一出现。一种形式表现出高产蛋量，但不能飞行，而另一种较少繁殖，但能够飞行。将测量这两种形式的营养摄入以及这些蟋蟀飞行、生殖和其他非飞行和非生殖组织之间的营养内部分配。这项研究将在其努力调查在整个生物体生活史水平上是否存在遗传决定的权衡的解剖结构和生理过程之间的资源权衡方面开辟新的领域。此外，本研究还获得了昆虫扩散和繁殖的生理基础数据，为昆虫种群控制的应用研究提供了重要的背景信息。

The goal of this proposal is to address a central but poorly understood topic in the evolution of life-history patterns in organisms: whether trade-offs of one ability relative to another result from trade-offs of nutritional resources at the physiological level. Specifically, the trade-off between flight capability and reproductive output of the crickets Gryllus rubens, will be considered. Individuals of this species occur as one of two genetically determined forms. One form exhibits elevated egg production but cannot fly while the other is less fecund but is capable of flight. The nutritional intake of the two forms and the internal partitioning of nutrients among flight, reproductive and other non-flight and non-reproductive tissues in these crickets will be measured. This study will break new ground in its effort to investigate whether there is a trade-off of resources between the anatomical structures and physiological processes underlying a genetically determined trade-off seen at the level of whole organism life-history. In addition, by obtaining data on the physiological bases of dispersal and reproduction, this study will provide important background information for applied studies that attempt to control insect populations.