The goal of this proposal is to address a central but poorly understood topic in the evolution of life-history patterns in organisms: whether trade-offs of one ability relative to another result from trade-offs of nutritional resources at the physiological level. Specifically, the trade-off between flight capability and reproductive output of the crickets Gryllus rubens, will be considered. Individuals of this species occur as one of two genetically determined forms. One form exhibits elevated egg production but cannot fly while the other is less fecund but is capable of flight. The nutritional intake of the two forms and the internal partitioning of nutrients among flight, reproductive and other non-flight and non-reproductive tissues in these crickets will be measured. This study will break new ground in its effort to investigate whether there is a trade-off of resources between the anatomical structures and physiological processes underlying a genetically determined trade-off seen at the level of whole organism life-history. In addition, by obtaining data on the physiological bases of dispersal and reproduction, this study will provide important background information for applied studies that attempt to control insect populations.
