Sibling competition does not exacerbate inbreeding depression in the burying beetle Nicrophorus vespilloides

摘要: Inbreeding results from matings between relatives and can cause a reduction in offspring fitness, known as inbreeding depression. Previous work has shown that wide range of environmental stresses, such extreme temperatures, starvation parasitism, exacerbate It recently been argued stresses due to intraspecific competition should have stronger effect on the severity depression than harsh physical conditions. Here, we tested whether an increase intensity sibling burying beetle Nicrophorus vespilloides. We used 2 × 3 factorial design with status (outbred or inbred) brood size (5, 20, 40 larvae) two factors. found main status, inbred larvae had lower survival outbred larvae, size, large broods mass medium-sized broods. However, there was no interaction suggesting did not influence Since focused within homogeneous either cannot rule out possible effects mixed paternity comprising both offspring. More information when might help advance our understanding causes underlying variation