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

这项提议的目标是解决生物体生活史模式进化中一个核心但鲜为人知的话题：一种能力相对于另一种能力的权衡是否源于生理水平上的营养资源权衡。具体地说，将考虑蟋蟀Gryllus Rubens的飞行能力和繁殖产量之间的权衡。这一物种的个体以两种遗传决定的形式之一出现。其中一种形式的产卵量较高，但不能飞行，而另一种形式的产卵量较低，但能够飞行。将测量这两种形式的营养摄入量以及营养物质在飞行、生殖和其他非飞行和非生殖组织中的内部分配。这项研究将在调查在整个生物体生活史水平上由基因决定的权衡背后的解剖结构和生理过程之间是否存在资源权衡的努力中开辟新的天地。此外，通过获得关于扩散和繁殖的生理基础的数据，这项研究将为试图控制昆虫种群的应用研究提供重要的背景信息。

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.