An experimental evolution study deciphers differences between the life attributes of developmental variants in Propylea dissecta (Mulsant) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

Abstract

Developmental plasticity is a well-known individual survival strategy. Organisms are usually limited in their ability to read environmental cues and to integrate present and past information for optimally adjusting their phenotype to the state of their environment. Our study was designed to evaluate the effects of experimental selection on the ontogenesis of developmental variants under standard laboratory conditions. Developmental plasticity of the ladybird Propylea dissecta (Mulsant) (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) is known but experimental evolution studies are still lacking. Our data revealed the effects of selection based on developmental rate over 15 generations. The selection resulted into two variants and showed an elevation of the adult body mass after 15 generations for fast developers. The ratio of the two developmental variants changes according to the applied selective pressure but is bimodal in both (F1 and F15) the generations.