Eur. J. Entomol. 91 (1): 71-78, 1994

Phenotypic plasticity and fitness in aphids

WEISSER W.W., STADLER B.
N/A

In holocylic aphid species many different morphs are produced during the phase of parthenogenetic reproduction. Because these morphs differ in their life-histories, research has been focused on how individual life-histories can be explained in the framework of maximizing the Malthusian parameter rm. All these different morphs are produced by the same genotype. Since it is the genotype that selection acts on it is questionable whether the intrinsic rates of increase of individual morphs can be used to make inferences about the fitness of the genotype. A simple model is developed to investigate the relationship between individual rm and clonal fitness in the case of wing dimorphism of aphids in summer. In the model, survival and fecundity of winged and unwinged morphs depend on the quality of their host plants, and unwinged aphids have to decide which morph to produce in the next generation to maximize the number of eggs produced at the end of the season. The model shows that clonal fitness depends on the sequence of morphs produced and that the relationship between individual and clonal rate of increase is not straightforward. The decision as to which morph to produce is influenced by the quality and distribution of the host plants and depends also on the time of the year. It is suggested that rm-values of individual morphs should be treated with care when aphid life-history is to be explained.

Keywords: Aphid life-history, phenotypic plasticity, fitness, intrinsic rate of increase, wing dimorphism

Accepted: February 10, 1994; Published: April 15, 1994  Show citation

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WEISSER, W.W., & STADLER, B. (1994). Phenotypic plasticity and fitness in aphids. EJE, 91(1), 71-78
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