To be or not to be? Mating success and survival trade-offs when switching between alternative reproductive tactics.

摘要: Hormones underlie the decision of assuming a territorial or nonterritorial role, with individuals usually having higher hormonal levels than individuals. As status is linked to mating opportunities, it unclear why animals do not keep high and one explanation that this would imply survival costs. We have tested using males damselfly Argia emma in field. increased juvenile hormone (JH) methoprene both predicted that: (i) will (the case males) become after increase, (ii) there be an increase success for only impaired male tactics. Hormonally treated remained became but had their compared control groups. Also, hormonally treated, ex-nonterritorial other control, males. The reduced can explained proximally by energy devoted either enhanced aggression showed during territory defence immune function (as detected previously damselflies). Although may switching tactic, they are possibly unable naturally as JH dietary dependent poorer condition animals.