Evidence for Interspecific Brood Parasite Detection and Removal in Burying Beetles

Smith, Ashlee N.; Belk, Mark C.

doi:10.1155/2018/2712945

Cited by 3 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 56 publications

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“…Species in this genus can provide extensive and elaborate parental care by directly regurgitating partially digested carrion into the mouths of their begging offspring (Eggert & Müller, ; Scott, ), and offspring of all species benefit from receiving parental regurgitations (Lock, Smiseth, & Moore, ; Rauter & Moore, ). Parenting behavior is remarkably similar across species, to the extent that cross‐fostering between species is readily accomplished, with variable effects on fitness (Benowitz, Moody, & Moore, ; Capodeanu‐Nägler, de la Torre, Eggert, Sakaluk, & Steiger, ; Smith & Belk, ). However, although well developed, parenting is not necessarily obligatory and the extent that offspring depend on parental care varies (Smiseth, Darwell, & Moore, ; Trumbo, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Variation in mandible development and its relationship to dependence on parents across burying beetles

Benowitz

Sparks

McKinney

et al. 2018

Ecology and Evolution

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BackgroundIn species with parental care, there is striking variation in offspring dependence at birth, ranging from feeding independence to complete dependency on parents for nutrition. Frequently, highly dependent offspring further evolve reductions or alterations of morphological traits that would otherwise promote self‐sufficiency. Here, we examine evidence for morphological evolution associated with dependence in burying beetles (Nicrophorus spp.), in which dependence upon parents appears to have several independent origins. In many species, precocial first instar larvae can survive without parenting, but several altricial species die at this stage on their own. We focused specifically on the mandibles, which are expected to be related to feeding ability and therefore independence from parents.ResultsWe find no evidence that the size of the mandible is related to dependence on parents. However, we do find a developmental and phylogenetic correlation between independence and the presence of serrations on the inner edge of the mandible. Mandibles of independent species bear serrations at hatching, whereas dependent species hatch with smooth mandibles, only developing serrations in the second instar when these larvae gain the ability to survive on their own. Phylogenetic evidence suggests that serrations coincide with independence repeatedly. We note a single exception to this trend, a beetle with a serrated mandible that cannot survive without parents. However, this exception occurs in a species that has recently evolved the loss of independence.ConclusionsWe argue that the absence of mandible serrations occurs due to alternative selection pressures incurred in larvae dependent upon parents to survive. We suggest that this may have led to a variable function for mandibles, perhaps related to increased competitive ability among siblings or increased efficiency in receiving nutrition from parents. Furthermore, we propose that the phylogenetic pattern we see is consistent with the long‐held evolutionary hypothesis that evolutionary change in behavior and physiology precede morphological change.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Variation in mandible development and its relationship to dependence on parents across burying beetles

Benowitz

Sparks

McKinney

et al. 2018

Ecology and Evolution

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Revisiting the ecology and evolution of burying beetle behavior (Staphylinidae: Silphinae)

Potticary,

Belk,

Creighton

et al. 2024

Ecology and Evolution

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Investigating fundamental processes in biology requires the ability to ground broad questions in species‐specific natural history. This is particularly true in the study of behavior because an organism's experience of the environment will influence the expression of behavior and the opportunity for selection. Here, we provide a review of the natural history and behavior of burying beetles of the genus Nicrophorus to provide the groundwork for comparative work that showcases their remarkable behavioral and ecological diversity. Burying beetles have long fascinated scientists because of their well‐developed parenting behavior, exhibiting extended post‐hatching care of offspring that varies extensively within and across taxa. Despite the burgeoning success of burying beetles as a model system for the study of behavioral evolution, there has not been a review of their behavior, ecology, and evolution in over 25 years. To address this gap, we leverage a developing community of researchers who have contributed to a detailed knowledge of burying beetles to highlight the utility of Nicrophorus for investigating the causes and consequences of social and behavioral evolution.

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Bigger Is Better, Sometimes: The Interaction between Body Size and Carcass Size Determines Fitness, Reproductive Strategies, and Senescence in Two Species of Burying Beetles

2021

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The cost of reproduction hypothesis suggests that allocation to current reproduction constrains future reproduction. How organisms accrue reproductive costs and allocate energy across their lifetime may differ among species adapted to different resource types. We test this by comparing lifetime reproductive output, patterns of reproductive allocation, and senescence between two species of burying beetles, Nicrophorus marginatus and N. guttula, that differ in body size, across a range of carcass sizes. These two species of burying beetles maximized lifetime reproductive output on somewhat different–sized resources. The larger N. marginatus did better on large and medium carcasses while the smaller N. guttula did best on small and medium carcasses. For both species, reproduction is costly and reproduction on larger carcasses reduced lifespan more than reproduction on smaller carcasses. Carcass size also affected lifetime reproductive strategies. Each species’ parental investment patterns were consistent with terminal investment on carcasses on which they performed best (optimal carcass sizes). However, they exhibited reproductive restraint on carcass sizes on which they did not perform as well. Reproductive senescence occurred largely in response to carcass size. For both species, reproduction on larger carcasses resulted in more rapid senescence. These data suggest that whether organisms exhibit terminal investment or reproductive restraint may depend on type and amount of resources for reproduction.

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Evidence for Interspecific Brood Parasite Detection and Removal in Burying Beetles

Cited by 3 publications

References 56 publications

Variation in mandible development and its relationship to dependence on parents across burying beetles

Variation in mandible development and its relationship to dependence on parents across burying beetles

Revisiting the ecology and evolution of burying beetle behavior (Staphylinidae: Silphinae)

Bigger Is Better, Sometimes: The Interaction between Body Size and Carcass Size Determines Fitness, Reproductive Strategies, and Senescence in Two Species of Burying Beetles

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