Conspecific cues mediate habitat selection and reproductive performance in a haplodiploid spider mite  

作　　者：Nuwan Weerawansha Qiao Wang Xiong Zhao He 

机构地区：[1]School of Agriculture and Environment,Massey University,Private Bag 11222,Palmerston North,4472,New Zealand [2]Faculty of Animal Science and Export Agriculture,Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka,Passara Road,Badulla 90000,Sri Lanka

出　　处：《Current Zoology》2024年第6期795-802,共8页动物学报（英文版）

基　　金：jointly funded by Accelerating Higher Education Expansion and Development Project(AHEAD)launched by the Sri Lankan Government under the funds of the World Bank;Massey University,New Zealand.

摘　　要：Selection of a suitable habitat by animals before settlement is critical for their survival and reproduction.In silk-spinning arthropods like spider mites,denser webs offer protection from predation and serve as a dispersal mode.Settling in habitats with the presence of conspecifics and silk webs can benefit the habitat-searching females.Silk and conspecifics usually coexist,but their distinct effects on female colonization have received little attention.In this study,we used a haplodiploid spider mite,Tetranychus ludeni Zacher(Acari:Tetranychidae),to examine the impact of conspecific cues,including cues from ovipositing conspecifics and silk,on habitat selection and subsequent reproductive performance of females.Results show that females significantly preferred habitats with cues from neighboring conspecifics and silk and neighboring conspecifics induced additive effect to that of silk on habitat selection.Conspecific cues did not boost female reproduction but facilitated females laying larger eggs that were more likely to be fertilized and to develop into daughters.When given a choice between silk-covered and clean habitats,females preferred silk-covered habitats,laid a similar number of eggs with similar size,but produced more daughters,suggesting that T.ludeni females can adjust the size threshold for fertilization in response to the current social environment.Knowledge of this study improves our understanding of spider mite habitat selection and post-settlement reproductive performance behaviors.

关 键 词：conspecifc cues habitat selection REPRODUCTION sex allocation 

分 类 号：Q95[生物学—动物学]