Putting invertebrate lactation in context

Benoit, Joshua B.; Attardo, Geoffrey M.

doi:10.1126/science.aaw2732

Cited by 5 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…They instead rely on the direct and continuous feeding of “milk,” which is a phenomenon observed in other arthropods. [ 30 ] This continual flow of milk to the larva enables tsetse flies, in just a few days, to complete the development of offspring weighing more than the mother.…”

Section: How Tsetse Flies Defy the Juvenile Small Size (Jss) Principlementioning

confidence: 99%

Big Baby, Little Mother: Tsetse Flies Are Exceptions to the Juvenile Small Size Principle

et al. 2020

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While across the animal kingdom offspring are born smaller than their parents, notable exceptions exist. Several dipteran species belonging to the Hippoboscoidea superfamily can produce offspring larger than themselves. In this essay, the blood-feeding tsetse is focused on. It is suggested that the extreme reproductive strategy of this fly is enabled by feeding solely on highly nutritious blood, and producing larval offspring that are soft and malleable. This immense reproductive expenditure may have evolved to avoid competition with other biting flies. Tsetse also transmit blood-borne parasites that cause the fatal diseases called African trypanosomiases. It is discussed how tsetse life history and reproductive strategy profoundly influence the type of vector control interventions used to reduce fly populations. In closing, it is argued that the unusual life history of tsetse warrants their preservation in the areas where human and animal health is not threatened.

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Section: How Tsetse Flies Defy the Juvenile Small Size (Jss) Principlementioning

confidence: 99%

Big Baby, Little Mother: Tsetse Flies Are Exceptions to the Juvenile Small Size Principle

et al. 2020

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“…Some male seminal fluids contain antimicrobial peptides, probably for similar reasons as in the female 51 , 52 . Female accessory gland proteins can also be a source of nutrition for developing progeny, either while growth occurs in the mother or as a secreted food source to nourish free living offspring 22 , 53 – 55 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multi-level analysis of reproduction in an Antarctic midge identifies female and male accessory gland products that are altered by larval stress and impact progeny viability

Finch

Nandyal

Perretta

et al. 2020

Sci Rep

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The Antarctic midge, Belgica antarctica, is a wingless, non-biting midge endemic to Antarctica. Larval development requires at least 2 years, but adults live only 2 weeks. The nonfeeding adults mate in swarms and females die shortly after oviposition. Eggs are suspended in a gel of unknown composition that is expressed from the female accessory gland. This project characterizes molecular mechanisms underlying reproduction in this midge by examining differential gene expression in whole males, females, and larvae, as well as in male and female accessory glands. Functional studies were used to assess the role of the gel encasing the eggs, as well as the impact of stress on reproductive biology. RNA-seq analyses revealed sex- and development-specific gene sets along with those associated with the accessory glands. Proteomic analyses were used to define the composition of the egg-containing gel, which is generated during multiple developmental stages and derived from both the accessory gland and other female organs. Functional studies indicate the gel provides a larval food source as well as a buffer for thermal and dehydration stress. All of these function are critical to juvenile survival. Larval dehydration stress directly reduces production of storage proteins and key accessory gland components, a feature that impacts adult reproductive success. Modeling reveals that bouts of dehydration may have a significant impact on population growth. This work lays a foundation for further examination of reproduction in midges and provides new information related to general reproduction in dipterans. A key aspect of this work is that reproduction and stress dynamics, currently understudied in polar organisms, are likely to prove critical in determining how climate change will alter their survivability.

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“… 38 The evolution of extended parental care, such as viviparity and prolonged nutrient provisioning, has been suggested to prevent predation and increase survival in uncertain environments. 39 , 40 Thus, the selection pressures associated with the evolution of viviparity is likely similar between vertebrates and invertebrates and acts to yield functionally similar changes. Comparative genomics of insects represents an excellent avenue to study in depth the genomic basis of the gradual emergence of viviparity, since different forms of viviparity as well as intermediate stages (ovoviviparity) are well represented in this group.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Live-bearing cockroach genome reveals convergent evolutionary mechanisms linked to viviparity in insects and beyond

Fouks,

Harrison,

Mikhailova

et al. 2023

iScience

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Putting invertebrate lactation in context

Cited by 5 publications

References 7 publications

Big Baby, Little Mother: Tsetse Flies Are Exceptions to the Juvenile Small Size Principle

Big Baby, Little Mother: Tsetse Flies Are Exceptions to the Juvenile Small Size Principle

Multi-level analysis of reproduction in an Antarctic midge identifies female and male accessory gland products that are altered by larval stress and impact progeny viability

Live-bearing cockroach genome reveals convergent evolutionary mechanisms linked to viviparity in insects and beyond

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