Abstract
Carry-over effects occur when past experience influences current individual performance. Although variation in conspecific density in one season has been shown to carry over to influence dynamics in the following season, the proximate ecological mechanisms driving these effects are unknown. One hypothesis is that high density decreases food availability, resulting in poor physiological condition, which in turn compromises performance the next season. Alternatively, high conspecific density could also lead to a high degree of antagonistic interactions, decreasing the amount of time individuals spend foraging. To investigate these hypotheses, we applied a factorial design where both conspecific density and per capita food availability during the non-breeding period were independently manipulated in seasonal populations of common fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster Meigen, 1830). Individual condition at the beginning of the breeding period was influenced by per capita food availability but not density during the previous non-breeding period. In contrast, reproductive output was most strongly influenced by the interaction between per capita food availability and density in the previous non-breeding period, such that populations that experienced high non-breeding densities and low food availability had the lowest reproductive output. However, the strength of this effect was relatively weak. Our results demonstrate how environmental and social conditions in one part of the annual cycle can carry over to influence individual performance in subsequent periods.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.