Abstract
At the end of the first larval stage, the C elegans larva chooses between two developmental pathways, an L2 committed to reproductive development and an L2d, which has the option of undergoing reproductive development or entering the dauer diapause. I develop a quantitative model of this choice using mathematical tools developed for pricing financial options. The model predicts that the optimal decision must take into account not only the expected potential for reproductive growth, but also the uncertainty in that expected potential. Because the L2d has more flexibility than the L2, it is favored in unpredictable environments. I estimate that the ability to take uncertainty into account may increase reproductive value by as much as 5%, and discuss possible experimental tests for this ability.
Highlights
The nematode C elegans develops from egg to adult through four larval stages, L1, L2, L3, and L4 (Figure 1)
Under favorable conditions this reproductive pathway takes less than two days
Reproductive value To quantify the effects of a decision, I begin with Fisher’s concept of reproductive value [3]
Summary
The nematode C elegans develops from egg to adult through four larval stages, L1, L2, L3, and L4 (Figure 1). Under favorable conditions this reproductive pathway takes less than two days. The dauer is a sort of worm spore, capable of surviving harsh conditions for a long time, and recovering if conditions improve. On recovery it becomes a superficially normal L4, with lifespan and fertility roughly the same as if it had developed through the reproductive pathway [1]. There must be a cost to L2d development, a mechanism by which it decreases fitness under favorable conditions
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