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Tactics of reproduction and reproductive allocation in four species of woodlice from southern Africa

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

J. Mark Dangerfield  and
S. R. Telford
J. Mark Dangerfield
Affiliation:
Department of Biological Sciences, University of Botswana, Private Bag 0022, Gaborone, Botswana
S. R. Telford
Affiliation:
Zoology Department, University of Pretoria, Pretoria 0002, South Africa
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Abstract

Measurements of reproductive allocation, fertility and iteroparity were made on females of four species of woodlice (Isopoda: Oniscidae) from southern Africa. In three of the species between-population comparisons were made. The average body mass of reproductive females was smaller than in temperate woodlice and because of a positive scaling between body mass and fertility: brood sizes were rarely larger than 30 young and usually between 5 and 20. Reproductive allocation ranged from 16 to 27% of female pre-birth live mass and differed significantly between species. Associations between reproductive allocation and body mass were all positive although only significant in two of the populations. A small number of females produced more than one brood during the study and iteroparity appears the most likely reproductive tactic in these species.

In woodlice a restriction on body size results in lower fecundity as brood size is ultimately determined by the size of the marsupium. It is postulated that a tactic of repeated reproduction, with a relatively conservative allocation of resources to each reproductive event to enhance survival probabilities, would be favoured, particularly in an environment where juvenile mortality and the chance of complete brood failure is high.

Keywords

BotswanaAphiloscia maculicornisAphiloscia vilisBethalus pretoriensislife history tacticsOniscidaePorcellionides pruinosuswoodliceZimbabwe
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Tropical Ecology , Volume 11 , Issue 4 , November 1995 , pp. 641 - 649
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1995

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