Allocation, life history and senescence: an integrated approach

动物的生活史特征包括生存、扩散和繁殖，所有这些都随着年龄的变化而变化。 这些生活史特征取决于食物的摄入量和食物对身体维持、活动和生育的分配。 食物摄入量的变化会影响这些特征之间的营养分配，改变死亡年龄，活动模式，以及后代的时间，数量和质量。 同样，增加对活动分配的需求会减少对其他特质的分配。 喂养和分配模式也影响性状衰老，或随着年龄的功能丧失。 生活史性状的集合如何随着食物应激或活动应激而变化还不清楚。 使用昆虫测试系统，这项工作将研究如何改变生活史性状，使用实验室生理实验和现场观察。 技术将包括稳定同位素分析、昆虫呼吸测定法、卵化学成分微量分析和身体形态测量。 这项工作将有助于了解环境变化对生物生存和繁殖的影响。 要做到这一点，这项工作将实验室结果与实地观察相结合，以了解生活史特征如何对野外环境变化做出反应，以及野外特征衰老。 这项工作还将测试营养分配理论作为生活史权衡的基础。 该项目将包括指导本科生、女性和少数族裔的研究工作。 研究成果将用于教学，教学理念将被发表供他人使用。 这项工作是以一个外地工作站的广泛的外地数据库为基础的。 与该项目有关的教育推广活动也将面向公众。 外联活动将包括继续学习课程，与公共教育计划合作，开发博物馆展览材料，为社区团体和广播节目举办讲座，以及报纸文章。 记者将参加，既了解该项目，又教育学生和科学家如何与新闻界和公众沟通。

Animal life history traits include survival, dispersal and reproduction, all of which change with age. These life history traits depend on food intake and on allocation of that food to body maintenance, activity and making offspring. Variation in the amount of food eaten can affect nutrient allocation among these traits, changing age at death, activity patterns, and timing, numbers and quality of offspring. Likewise, increased demands for allocation to activity can reduce allocation to other traits. Feeding and allocation patterns also affect trait senescence, or loss of function with age. How the set of life history traits changes with food stress or with activity stress is not well understood. Using an insect test system, this work will examine how such environmental stresses alter life history traits, using both laboratory physiological experiments and field observations. Techniques will include stable isotope analysis, insect respirometry, micro-analysis of chemical composition of eggs and measurements of body morphology. This work will contribute to understanding the impacts of environmental change on organisms' survival and reproduction. To do this, the work will connect experimental laboratory results with field observations, to build an understanding of how life history traits respond to environmental variation in the wild, and of trait senescence in the wild. The work will also test the theory of nutrient allocation as the basis for life history trade-offs. The project will include mentoring of undergraduates, women and minorities in research. Research results will be used in teaching, and teaching ideas will be published for use by others. The work builds on extensive field databases at a field station. Educational outreach associated with the project will also be directed to the general public. Outreach will include a continuing studies course, work with a public education program, development of museum exhibit materials, talks for community groups and radio shows, and newspaper articles. Journalists will participate, both to learn about the project and in turn to educate students and scientists on communication with the press and the public.