Natural variation in the growth and development of Protopiophila litigata (Diptera: Piophilidae) developing in three moose (Artiodactyla: Cervidae) antlers

Abstract

In animals, the early-life environment influences growth and development, which can have lasting effects on life history and fitness into adulthood. We investigated the patterns of growth, pupal development time, and their covariation in Protopiophila litigata Bonduriansky (Diptera: Piophilidae) larvae of both sexes collected from three discarded moose (Alces alces (Linnaeus) (Artiodactyla: Cervidae)) antlers of varying size, chewing damage (used to infer relative age), and P. litigata density. Males tended to be smaller and their pupation lasted longer than females. One of the antlers was highly attractive to adult P. litigata, whereas the other two attracted few or none. Individuals from one antler of low attractiveness were smaller and took longer to eclose than individuals from either other antler, perhaps due to its high larval density. The relationship between body size and pupal development time also differed among antlers, being positively correlated in the most attractive antler and negatively correlated in the two other antlers.

Development time mediates the effect of larval diet on ageing and mating success of male antler flies in the wild

“…However, none of these past studies measured development time, so they could not partition the effects of development time and body size, which are correlated in antler flies (Fig. 1B; [68]). Thus, the significant effects of body size on lifespan, mating success, and senescence reported by Bonduriansky and Brassil [43] may in fact be consistent with the effects of development time reported here.…”

“…Interestingly, Mautz et al [39] reported differing effects of body size between years: large males experienced substantially higher mortality in one year, but slightly lower mortality in the other and slightly higher mating rate in both years. However, none of these past studies measured development time, so they could not partition the effects of development time and body size, which are correlated in antler flies (figure 1b; [68]). Thus, the significant effects of body size on lifespan, mating success and senescence reported by Bonduriansky & Brassil [43] may in fact be consistent with the effects of development time reported here.…”

Natural variation in the growth and development of Protopiophila litigata (Diptera: Piophilidae) developing in three moose (Artiodactyla: Cervidae) antlers

“…The original published version of this article (Angell and Cook 2019) contained an error in the calculation of antler surface area in Table 1, which also affected the estimates of male density in Table 1 and Fig. 2.…”