Influence of artificial selection for duration of death feigning on pre- and post-copulatory traits in male Tribolium castaneum

Abstract

In many animals, investment in anti-predator traits can affect reproductive success. Conversely, males that invest more resources in mating success may have relatively fewer resources to devote to anti-predator traits, leading to increased predation risk. Although previous studies have reported a trade-off in investment between anti-predator traits and reproductive traits in male animals, few studies have specifically investigated the effects of anti-predator behavior on male reproductive traits. Many animals engage in death-feigning as an anti-predator behavior. Herein, we investigated the relationship between the death-feigning behavior and pre- and post-copulatory reproductive traits of male red flour beetles, Tribolium castaneum. In a previous study, we used artificial selection to establish T. castaneum strains with a genetically longer (L-strain) or shorter (S-strain) duration of death-feigning behavior. In the present study, we compared the attractiveness (a pre-copulatory trait) and paternity success (a post-copulatory trait) between L- and S-strain males. The results showed no significant difference in attractiveness or paternity success between the two strains. The results suggest that death-feigning behavior is not correlated with pre- or post-copulatory reproductive traits in male T. castaneum.