Diet alters delayed selfing, inbreeding depression, and reproductive senescence in a freshwater snail. Issue 14 (22nd June 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Auld, Josh R.; Henkel, John F.
• Is Part Of: Ecology and evolution. Volume 4:Issue 14(2014)
• Page Start: 2968
• Page End: 2977
• Publication Date: 2014-06-22
• Subjects: Ecology -- Periodicals; Evolution -- Periodicals; 577.05
• DOI: 10.1002/ece3.1146
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2045-7758

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="ece31146-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Reproductive success is a critical fitness attribute that is directly influenced by resource availability. Here, we investigate the effects of diet‐based resource availability on three interrelated aspects of reproductive success: a change in mating system based on mate availability, consequent inbreeding depression, and the deterioration of reproductive efficiency with age (senescence). We employed a factorial experimental design using 22 full‐sib families of the hermaphroditic freshwater snail <italic>Physa acuta</italic> to explore these interactions. Individual snails were reared in one of two mate‐availability treatments (isolated [selfing] or occasionally paired [outcrossing]) and one of two diet treatments (boiled lettuce or <italic>Spirulina</italic>, an algae that is rich in protein, vitamins, and minerals). <italic>Spirulina</italic>‐fed snails initiated reproduction at a 13% earlier age and 7% larger size than lettuce‐fed snails. <italic>Spirulina</italic> also resulted in a 30% reduction in the time delay before selfing. Compared to lettuce, a diet of <italic>Spirulina</italic> increased inbreeding depression by 52% for egg hatching rate and 64% for posthatching juvenile survival. Furthermore, <italic>Spirulina</italic> led to a 15‐fold increase in the rate of reproductive senescence compared with a diet of lettuce. These transgenerational, interactive effects of diet on inbreeding depression and reproductive senescence are discussed in the context of diet‐induced phenotypic plasticity.</p> </abstract>