MODIFICATION OF EGG-PRODUCTION AND PACKAGING IN RESPONSE TO FOOD AVAILABILITY BY NASSARIUS-PAUPERATUS

Adjacent populations of Nassarius pauperatus differ significantly in how hungry their members are. The numbers of eggs and egg capsules produced are positively correlated with how hungry members of a population are, but the average number of eggs per capsule is negatively correlated with hunger. These results were confirmed in a laboratory experiment using two groups from the same population maintained with different levels of food. The significance of this behaviour is discussed and the hypothesis proposed that the flexibility of reproductive patterns is correlated with dispersive ability. © 1979 Springer-Verlag.