Parents’ living conditions influence offspring fitness and competency

Abstract

In this study, we used Callosobruchus maculatus as a model insect to assess the idea of whether or not environmental conditions experienced by parents subsequently moderate offspring fitness and competency. We observed that parents’ experiences (sex ratio of parents, restricted access to mates, and honey access) influenced their offspring’s features and did not significantly affect traits such as offspring sex ratio, larval duration, and longevity. However, not only offspring (F1) but also grand-offspring (F2) copulation behaviors, egg number, and hatching percentage were influenced by parents’ experiences. Hence, the offspring of parents living in unfavorable conditions had higher copulation success, higher male mating propensity, and a lower mating latency time in adulthood than the progeny of parents kept under natural or favorable conditions. Interestingly, the offspring of parents with favorable living conditions showed the least tendency to copulate immediately. Even grandparents’ experience could affect descendant behaviors and shorten copulation duration. Adjustments of the parents to their environment were inherited by offspring and grand-offspring to cope better with challenging circumstances and might make the organism more competent. Therefore, the parents’ living conditions have a remarkable impact on how their progeny behave in different situations.