GENETIC-BASIS OF BEHAVIORAL STRATEGIES - DISPERSAL OF FEMALE FLOUR BEETLES, TRIBOLIUM-CONFUSUM, IN A LABORATORY SYSTEM

Individuals of flour beetles of the genus Tribolium differ in dispersal activity measured as a tendency to leave a container with flour. I tested the hypothesis that dispersal in laboratory populations of Tribolium is density-dependent and induced mainly by overcrowding. I use the concept of two alternative behavioral tactics. i.e. emigration vs common exploitation of a patch. Both tactics can be chosen by the same animal, but there are individuals permanently biased towards one of them. An individual selection experiment shows that differences in behavioral preferences have a genetic component and that probably only a few loci are involved. The present experiment can serve as evidence that behavioral strategies may be based on a simple genetic system, and in this sense it supports the concept of an evolutionarily stable strategy.