Periodicity of Egg Laying and Egg Age Distributions in Planktonic Cladocera

1984 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 409-413 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alan J. Tessier
Keyword(s):  
Negative Correlation ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Daphnia Galeata ◽  
Molt Cycle ◽  
Egg Development ◽  
Daphnia Species ◽  
Diel Cycles ◽  
Development Times ◽  
Daphnia Galeata Mendotae

In natural populations of planktonic Cladocera, I observed significant diel, molt cycle, and cohort periodicity of egg laying. Diel cycles of egg laying were pronounced in one population of Daphnia galeata mendotae; most females laid eggs only at dawn. There was a strongly negative correlation between diel egg laying cycles of coexisting Daphnia species. Egg laying in two Daphnia populations cycled with a period approximating the egg development times, suggesting a synchronization of individual molt cycles. Noncontiguous reproduction was characteristic of a population of Holopedium gibberum. Adults reproduced synchronously and then died; there was little overlap of generations.

scholarly journals Natural variation in yolk fatty acids, but not androgens, predicts offspring fitness in a wild bird

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucia Mentesana ◽  
Martin N. Andersson ◽  
Stefania Casagrande ◽  
Wolfgang Goymann ◽  
Caroline Isaksson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fatty Acids ◽  
Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids ◽  
Maternal Effects ◽  
Natural Variation ◽  
De Novo ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Interactive Effects ◽  
Free Living ◽  
Offspring Fitness

Abstract Background In egg-laying animals, mothers can influence the developmental environment and thus the phenotype of their offspring by secreting various substances into the egg yolk. In birds, recent studies have demonstrated that different yolk substances can interactively affect offspring phenotype, but the implications of such effects for offspring fitness and phenotype in natural populations have remained unclear. We measured natural variation in the content of 31 yolk components known to shape offspring phenotypes including steroid hormones, antioxidants and fatty acids in eggs of free-living great tits (Parus major) during two breeding seasons. We tested for relationships between yolk component groupings and offspring fitness and phenotypes. Results Variation in hatchling and fledgling numbers was primarily explained by yolk fatty acids (including saturated, mono- and polyunsaturated fatty acids) - but not by androgen hormones and carotenoids, components previously considered to be major determinants of offspring phenotype. Fatty acids were also better predictors of variation in nestling oxidative status and size than androgens and carotenoids. Conclusions Our results suggest that fatty acids are important yolk substances that contribute to shaping offspring fitness and phenotype in free-living populations. Since polyunsaturated fatty acids cannot be produced de novo by the mother, but have to be obtained from the diet, these findings highlight potential mechanisms (e.g., weather, habitat quality, foraging ability) through which environmental variation may shape maternal effects and consequences for offspring. Our study represents an important first step towards unraveling interactive effects of multiple yolk substances on offspring fitness and phenotypes in free-living populations. It provides the basis for future experiments that will establish the pathways by which yolk components, singly and/or interactively, mediate maternal effects in natural populations.

scholarly journals Observations on some biological aspects of Cicadatra persica (Cicadidae: Hemiptera) in apple fruit orchards in Erneh, Syria

2012 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marah Ahmad Dardar ◽  
Hamzeh Mouhammad Ramadan Belal ◽  
Abedlnabi Mouhammad Basheer
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle ◽  
Adult Emergence ◽  
Apple Fruit ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Egg Development ◽  
Successful Method ◽  
Biological Aspects ◽  
Fruit Orchards

<em>Cicadatra persica</em> Kirkaldy, 1909 (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) is regarded as a potential constraint to the productivity of apple fruit orchards in Erneh (33&deg;21&rsquo;N, 35&deg;52&rsquo;E), near Damascus, Syria. However, no research has been conducted on this pest. This study examined adult emergence, egg laying, and hatching periods. Adults emerged in early June, with an emergence peak in the fourth week of June 2011, and started laying eggs in mid-June. Egg development was approximately 40 days, with the first eggs hatching on 1<sup>st</sup> August 2011 and the final hatch on 17<sup>th</sup> August 2011. The simple and relatively successful method of monitoring egg development reported here may be useful for studying the nymphal ecology and life cycle of this species.

scholarly journals Epigenetic mediation of the onset of reproduction in a songbird

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melanie Lindner ◽  
Veronika N. Laine ◽  
Irene Verhagen ◽  
Heidi M. Viitaniemi ◽  
Marcel E. Visser ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Dna Methylation ◽  
Phenotypic Plasticity ◽  
Regulatory Region ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Parus Major ◽  
Great Tit ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Avian Reproduction ◽  
Directional Variation

ABSTRACTClimate change significantly impacts natural populations, particularly phenology traits, like the seasonal onset of reproduction in birds. This impact is mainly via plastic responses in phenology traits to changes in the environment, but the molecular mechanism mediating this plasticity remains elusive. Epigenetic modifications can mediate plasticity and consequently constitute promising candidates for mediating phenology traits. Here, we used genome-wide DNA methylation profiles of individual great tit (Parus major) females that we blood sampled repeatedly throughout the breeding season. We demonstrate rapid and directional variation in DNA methylation within the regulatory region of genes known to play key roles in avian reproduction that are in line with observed changes in gene expression in chickens. Our findings provide an important step towards unraveling the molecular mechanism mediating a key life history trait, an essential knowledge-gap for understanding how natural populations may cope with future climate change.IMPACT SUMMARYNatural populations are increasingly challenged by changing environmental conditions like global increases in temperature. A key way for species to adapt to global warming is via phenotypic plasticity, i.e. the ability to adjust the expression of traits to the environment. We, however, know little about how the environment can interact with an organism’s genetic make-up to shape its trait value. Epigenetic marks are known to vary with the environment and can modulate the expression of traits without any change in the genetic make-up and therefore have the potential to mediate phenotypic plasticity.To study the role of epigenetics for phenotypic plasticity, we here focus on the great tit (Parus major), a species that is strongly affected by global warming and plastic for temperature in an essential phenology trait, the seasonal onset of egg laying. As a first step, we investigated whether great tit females show within-individual and short-term variation in DNA methylation that corresponds to changes in the reproductive state of females. We therefore housed breeding pairs in climate-controlled aviaries to blood sample each female repeatedly throughout the breeding season and used these repeated samples for methylation profiling.We found rapid and directional variation in DNA methylation at the time females prepared to initiate egg laying that is located within the regulatory region of genes that have previously described functions for avian reproduction. Although future work is needed to establish a causal link between the observed temporal variation in DNA methylation and the onset of reproduction in female great tits, our work highlights the potential role for epigenetic modifications in mediating an essential phenology trait that is sensitive to temperatures.

scholarly journals Comparative analysis of the ftness of Drosophila virilis lines contrasting in response to stress

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (8) ◽  
pp. 1090-1096
Author(s):  
E. K. Karpova ◽  
I. Yu. Rauschenbach ◽  
N. E. Gruntenko
Keyword(s):  
Heat Stress ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Population Level ◽  
Stress Reaction ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Drosophila Virilis ◽  
Gonadotropic Hormone ◽  
Adverse Conditions ◽  
Low Intensity ◽  
Response To Stress

One of the crucial elements contributing to the adaptation of organisms to unfavorable environmental conditions is the reaction of stress. The study of its genetic control and role in adaptation to unfavorable conditions are of special interest. The juvenile hormone (JH) acts as a gonadotropic hormone in adult insects controlling the development of the ovaries, inducing vitellogenesis and oviposition. It was shown that a decrease in JH degradation in individuals reacting to adverse conditions by stress reaction (R­individuals) causes delay in egg laying and seems to allow the population to “wait out” the unfavorable conditions, thereby contributing to the adaptation at the population level. However, monitoring natural populations of D. melanogaster for the capability of stress reaction demonstrated that they have a high percentage of individuals incapable of it (NR­individuals). The study of reproductive characteristics of R­ and NR­individuals showed that under normal conditions R­individuals have the advantage of procreating offspring. Under unfavorable conditions, if the stressor is intense enough, NR­individuals die, but if its intensity is low, then they, unlike R­individuals, continue to produce offspring. Based on these data, it was hypothesized that the balance of R­ and NR­alleles in the population ensures its adaptation under frequent stresses of low intensity. To verify the hypothesis by an experiment, the ftness characteristics (lifespan, fecundity) of the R and NR lines of D. virilis were studied under normal conditions and under regular heat stress of various frequency.

Dieldrin reduces male production and sex ratio in Daphnia galeata mendotae

1999 ◽  
Vol 15 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 193-200 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine M. Merritt ◽  
Laura Torrentera ◽  
Katherine M. Winter ◽  
Christopher K. Tornehl ◽  
Kristin Girvin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Male Production ◽  
Daphnia Galeata ◽  
Daphnia Galeata Mendotae

EFFECTS OF AGE, EGG DEVELOPMENT, AND MATING ON CALLING BEHAVIOR OF THE BERTHA ARMYWORM, MAMESTRA CONFIGURATA WALKER (LEPIDOPTERA: NOCTUIDAE),

1986 ◽  
Vol 118 (12) ◽  
pp. 1221-1230 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.A. Howlader ◽  
G.H. Gerber
Keyword(s):  
Refractory Period ◽  
Egg Laying ◽  
Calling Behavior ◽  
Diel Periodicity ◽  
Egg Development ◽  
Mamestra Configurata ◽  
First Time ◽  
Lepidoptera Noctuidae ◽  
Bertha Armyworm

AbstractThe effects of age, egg development, and mating on calling behavior of the bertha armyworm, Mamestra configurata Walker, were studied at 20°C, 60% RH, and a 16-h L: 8-h D photoperiod. Most virgin females called and copulated for the first time during the second or third scotophase after emergence. The first copulation was 17.0 ± 0.2 h (mean±SE) long and was terminated within 1 h after lights off in the scotophase following the initiation of copulation. The ovaries contained the first chorionated eggs before the beginning of the second scotophase after emergence. The first egg laying occurred during the same scotophase in which the first copulation was terminated, i.e. scotophase three or four. Almost 75% of the eggs were laid by the end of the seventh scotophase after emergence. Mated females resumed calling after a refractory period of about 2 days. Once calling was resumed after copulation, most females laid eggs and called nightly, with egg laying occurring during the first 5–6 h and calling during the last 2–3 h of the scotophase. Mated females called for a shorter period during each scotophase than virgin females of the same age (1–3 h vs. 4–6 h). In virgin females, the diel periodicity of calling was advanced and the length of the daily calling period was increased with age until the seventh scotophase after emergence; thereafter, both remained relatively unchanged.

Development time of harpacticoid copepods: some empirical models and implications

1999 ◽  
Vol 79 (6) ◽  
pp. 1123-1124 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.J.P. Santos ◽  
J. Castel ◽  
L.P. Souza-Santos
Keyword(s):  
Body Length ◽  
Development Time ◽  
Environmental Temperature ◽  
Harpacticoid Copepod ◽  
Empirical Models ◽  
Copepod Species ◽  
Egg Development ◽  
Rearing Temperature ◽  
Development Times ◽  
Harpacticoid Copepods

Some meiobenthic harpacticoid copepod species cannot be successfully cultured, therefore empirical models were developed to estimate their development times, using literature data, but taking into consideration several empirical rules previously formulated to model the development of planktonic copepods. The present models demonstrated the overwhelming influence of rearing temperature on egg development time, and of body length on total development time and indicate a capacity to adapt development rates to environmental temperature.

Freshwater Zooplankton Community Structure: Introduction of Large Invertebrate Predators and Large Herbivores to a Small Species Community

1988 ◽  
Vol 45 (10) ◽  
pp. 1758-1770 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Vanni
Keyword(s):  
Introduced Species ◽  
Zooplankton Community ◽  
Zooplankton Species ◽  
Small Species ◽  
Daphnia Galeata ◽  
Resident Species ◽  
Large Herbivores ◽  
Fishless Lakes ◽  
Invertebrate Predators ◽  
Daphnia Galeata Mendotae

Two hypotheses have been proposed to explain the scarcity of small zooplankton species in fishless lakes, in which large zooplankton species dominate: (1) selective predation on small species by large invertebrate predators and (2) competitive suppression of small species by large herbivores. These hypotheses were tested at the Experimental Lakes Area (ELA) by introducing a large invertebrate predator, Chaoborus americanus, and a large herbivore, Daphnia catawba, both common in fishless ELA lakes, into a zooplankton community typical of ELA lakes with fish (small zooplankton species present). Chaoborus had much more of an impact than D. catawba on resident zooplankton, although both introduced species significantly reduced the abundance of some resident species. Daphnia galeata mendotae, the dominant species in the absence of introduced species, was reduced to virtual extinction by Chaoborus. The cladocerans Bosmina and Diaphanosoma, the copepods Diaptomus spp., and the rotifer Conochilus also were reduced in abundance by Chaoborus. Daphnia galeata mendotae and Bosmina were the only resident species consistently reduced in abundance by D. catawba. These results support current conceptual models that depict invertebrate predation as an important factor responsible for the relative scarcity of small zooplankton species in fishless lakes.

scholarly journals EVIDENCE FOR COADAPTATION: NEGATIVE CORRELATION BETWEEN LETHAL GENES AND POLYMORPHIC INVERSIONS IN DROSOPHILA MELANOGASTER

Genetics ◽  
1976 ◽  
Vol 82 (4) ◽  
pp. 697-702
Author(s):  
Takao K Watanabe ◽  
Tsuneyuki Yamazaki
Keyword(s):  
Drosophila Melanogaster ◽  
Negative Correlation ◽  
Position Effect ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
Gene Arrangement ◽  
Induced Mutations ◽  
And Inversion ◽  
Lethal Genes ◽  
New Mutations

ABSTRACT Through examination of all available data on lethal and inversion frequencies on the second chromosome in natural populations of Drosophila melanogaster, we have discovered that there is a clear negative correlation between the two quantities. Lethal genes are located more densely on the regions of standard gene arrangement than the inverted regions, and this accounts for the negative correlation. To reveal the underlying mechanism of the phenomena, we have carried out an experiment and found that effect of EMS-induced mutations on the inversion-carrying chromosome is more severe than that on the standard chromosome. We interpret these results as evidence for coadaptation or position-effect within the inversion chromosomes. New mutations within the coadapted gene complex are quickly eliminated from the population and polymorphic inversions are kept free of mutants through selective elimination.

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