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Reproductive strategies for the seasonal tropics

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 September 2011

R. E. Jones
R. E. Jones
Affiliation:
Zoology Department, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld, Australia 4811
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Abstract

Because seasonality in tropical habitats is controlled primarily by variations in rainfall rather than variations in temperature, it is frequently less predictable in timing, and spatially more patchy than seasonality in temperate habitats. This constrains the ways in which tropical species can adapt to seasonally adverse conditions, and in particular, may give greater importance to migratory behaviour as a component of seasonal adaptation.

Australian pierid and nymphalid butterflies illustrate these points. The species studied are present as adults during the dry season. Some undergo a reproductive diapause while others breed continuously. Major seasonal shifts in geographic distribution are a conspicuous feature of their biology, except in species whose reproduction is cued directly by rainfall, or are restricted to less seasonal microhabitats. Reproductive diapause is often associated with aggregation and with non-melanic polyphenism. Reasons for spending the dry season as an adult may include the fact that adult food remains available through the dry season even though larval resources disappear, and an improved capacity for opportunistic dispersal before breeding begins. The use of direct rainfall cues to control diapause may exclude non-migratory species from subtropical or temperate regions.

Résumé

Les changements saisonniers des habitats tropicaux sont controlés principalement par les variations du régime de pluie plutôt que de tempeŕature; de ce fait, ils sont fréquemment moins prévisibles dans leur minutage, et plus inégaux dans leur distribution spatiale que les habitats tempérés. Ces contraintes affectent la façon dont les espèces tropicales s'adaptent aux conditions saisonnières défavorables et en particulier, soulignent l'importance du comportement migratoire comme trait d'adaptation saisonnier.

Les papillons australiens appartenant aux familles Pieridae et Nymphalidae en fournissent l'illustration. Les espèces étudiées sont présentes à l'age adulte pendant la saison sèche. Certaines entrent dans une diapause reproductrice, alors que d'autres se reproduisent sans interruption.

Les importants changements saisonniers de leur distribution géographique représentent un aspect prépondérant de leur biologie, sauf dans le cas des espèces dont la reproduction est directement couplée au régime de pluie ou dans le cas de celles qui sont limitées a des micro habitats saisonniers. La diapause reproductrice est souvent associée au phénomène d'agrégation et de polyphénisme non mélanique. Les raisons pour lesquelles ces espèces passent la saison sèche à l état adulte sont peut-être le fait de la présence de nourriture pour adulte tout au long de la saison sèche, alors que. Les ressources des larves ont disparu, et une plus grande capacité de dispersion opportuniste avant le début de la reproduction. L'utilisation des signaux directement reliés au régime de pluie comme contrôle de la diapause exclut peut-être les espèces non migratoires, des régions subtropicales et tempérées.

Keywords

SeasonalitytropicsreproductiondiapausebutterfliesPieridaeNymphalidaeSaisonniertropiquereproductiondiapausepapillonsPieridaeNymphalidae
Type
Symposium III: Life-History Traits in Tropical Insects
Information
International Journal of Tropical Insect Science , Volume 8 , Issue 4-5-6: Recent Advances in Research on Tropical Entomology , December 1987 , pp. 515 - 521
Copyright
Copyright © ICIPE 1987

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