Temperature-induced developmental plasticity in Plodia interpunctella: Reproductive behaviour and sperm length

Area of Science:

• Reproductive Biology
• Environmental Physiology
• Evolutionary Biology

Background:

• Male gametogenesis in plants and animals is sensitive to heat stress, impacting fertility and reproductive success.
• Developmental temperature effects on male reproductive behavior and physiology are understudied.
• Understanding these effects is crucial for predicting population responses to climate change.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of developmental temperature on sperm morphology and copulatory behavior in the Indian meal moth, Plodia interpunctella.
• To explore the phenotypic plasticity of reproductive traits in response to environmental temperature.
• To provide insights into the evolutionary consequences of temperature stress on reproduction.

Main Methods:

• Rearing Indian meal moths (Plodia interpunctella) at various developmental temperatures.
• Measuring the length of apyrene and eupyrene sperm.
• Observing and quantifying male copulatory behavior, including mating likelihood and copula duration.

Main Results:

• Sperm length (both apyrene and eupyrene) decreased with increasing developmental temperature.
• Males reared at extreme temperatures (highest and lowest) were less likely to engage in copulation.
• Copula duration decreased as male developmental temperature increased.

Conclusions:

• Developmental temperature significantly influences male reproductive traits and behavior in Plodia interpunctella.
• Phenotypic plasticity in response to temperature stress can have profound effects on reproductive success.
• These findings contribute to understanding population resilience to climate change and evolutionary dynamics of fitness traits.