Effect of nutritional stress and sex on melanotic encapsulation rate in the sexually size dimorphic Cook Strait giant weta (Deinacrida rugosa)

摘要: Nutritional condition and sex are known to influence efficacy investment in immune function. A poor diet is costly function because it limits the resources (e.g., protein) available effector systems melanotic encapsulation), whereas males females expected differ how they allocate fitness-related traits. Males invest less immunity, more mating, than females, but this pattern could be reversed if fitness condition-dependent females. I tested effects of nutritional on encapsulation rate Cook Strait giant weta (Deinacrida rugosa Buller, 1871), an orthopteran insect exhibiting strong female-biased sexual size dimorphism that is, at least part, result selection for small male size. found D. have a stronger response while has only positive effect particular ...