EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
The European Journal of Environmental Sciences offers a mixture of original peer-reviewed research papers, which bring you some of the most exciting developments in environmental sciences in the broadest sense, often with an inter- or trans-disciplinary perspective, focused on the European problems. The journal also includes critical reviews on topical issues, and overviews of the status of environmental protection in particular regions or countries. The journal covers a broad range of topics, including direct or indirect interactions between abiotic or biotic components of the environment, interactions of environment with human society, or environmental sustainability.

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES, Vol 2 No 2 (2012), 84–88

Cannibalism, optimal egg size and vulnerable developmental stages in insect predators

Anthony F. G. Dixon, Pavel Kindlmann

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14712/23361964.2015.28
published online: 01. 03. 2013

abstract

Cannibalism in insect predators is widely reported and commented on. However, the reasons for the high levels of cannibalism observed, the vulnerability of certain developmental stages, and its adaptive significance are poorly understood. Here we show that unlike in parasitoids there could be advantages for a predator in laying many small eggs, rather than fewer large eggs. The temporal incidence of cannibalism within a patch is possibly a consequence of changes in the ratio of predator to prey numbers and/or changes in the vulnerability of the developmental stages of the predator. Cannibalism is advantageous for cannibals because conspecifics are a rich source of food for larval development or egg production, and it reduces intraspecific competition. Adults reduce the cannibalism of their offspring by not ovipositing in patches of prey where conspecific larvae are present.

keywords: adaptive significance; Coccinellidae; fitness; selection; survival

Creative Commons License
Cannibalism, optimal egg size and vulnerable developmental stages in insect predators is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

210 x 297 mm
periodicity: 2 x per year
print price: 150 czk
ISSN: 1805-0174
E-ISSN: 2336-1964

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