Abstract
Developmental conditions can strongly influence adult phenotypes and social interactions, which in turn affect key evolutionary processes such as sexual selection and sexual conflict. While the implications of social interactions in phenotypically mixed populations at the individual level are increasingly well known, how these effects influence the fate of groups remains poorly understood, which limits our understanding of the broader ecological implications. To address this problem we manipulated adult phenotypes and social composition in Drosophila melanogaster – by experimentally manipulating the larval density of the group-members – and measured a range of group-level outcomes across the lifespan of groups. Adult groups composed of exclusively low larval-density individuals showed high courtship levels, and low early reproductive rates, group growth rates, offspring mass and offspring eclosion success, relative to high larval-density or mixed larval-density groups. Furthermore, high larval-density groups had lower survival. Offspring mass increased with time, but at a reduced rate in groups when male group members (but not females) were from a mixture of larval-densities; peak reproductive rates were also earlier in these groups. Our results suggest that that variation in developmental conditions experienced by adult group members can modify the reproductive output of groups.
Highlights
In natural populations, varying availability of resources in the environment generate variation in phenotypes between individuals, who interact in social groups[1, 2]
Most studies on the developmental environment have focused on the plastic responses of focal individuals, and only recently have studies in Drosophila melanogaster begun to investigate the dynamics within mixed-phenotype social groups[7, 11, 36]
The interaction between developmental environments and adult social environments could shape the dynamics between individuals within groups or populations, and influence the likelihood of populations persisting, expanding, or going extinct
Summary
In natural populations, varying availability of resources in the environment generate variation in phenotypes between individuals, who interact in social groups[1, 2]. The magnitude of these larval density effects on adult reproduction can be mitigated in mixed-phenotype social groups[7, 36] Males direct their courtship efforts preferentially to large females in mixed female size environments, which in turn reduces the fecundity advantages of large over small females[36]. Neither do we understand whether any potential effects are transferred onto subsequent generations, which could further influence group productivity and persistence This is unfortunate because ecological and social conditions are known to influence important physiological and behavioural processes, including modulation of pathogen transmission and immune responses (e.g. refs 38–41), mating behaviour and reproductive output (e.g. refs 42 and 43), and offspring quality (e.g. refs 44–46). Factors influencing group productivity and survival are key to species management programs such as for the conservation of endangered populations, and important for the control of agricultural pest species and disease vectors[47, 48]
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