EFFECTS OF SELECTION FOR EARLY AND LATE REPRODUCTION IN LOW AND HIGH LARVAL DENSITY POPULATIONS OF THE BEAN WEEVIL (ACANTHOSCELIDES-OBTECTUS)

This study concerns an analysis of one-generation selection for early and late reproduction in populations maintained for 10 generations at low and high levels of larval density. We have obtained direct responses to selection in both the early and late reproducing parents. There was, however, no correlation between fecundity and longevity. Phenotypic responses suggest that parental age could change the fecundity schedule in the way predicted by antagonistic pleiotropy theory. However, the absence of statistically detectable negative genetic correlation between early and late fecundities made our study inconclusive with respect to possible genetically based trade-off among fecundity indices.