THE DIAPAUSE AND RELATED PHENOMENA IN GILPINIA POLYTOMA (HARTIG): IV. INFLUENCE OF FOOD AND DIAPAUSE UPON REPRODUCTIVE CAPACITY

Abstract

Methods of sampling, determination of reproductive capacity, and analysis of data are described. Various physical measurements are positively correlated with reproductive capacity, but regression equations are unsatisfactory for estimation of fecundity outside of the population in which the relationships have been determined, due to variability in the degree of joint variation of size and fecundity under different feeding conditions. Field populations developed on white spruce are more fecund than those developed on black spruce; reductions of 30% or more may result from periodic food shortage.Reproductive capacity of females emerging over a period of three to five years in each of 20 populations, failed to show any consistent trend in relation to the diapause period. From this, and also from the slight reduction in eonymphal dry weight over extended intervals at favourable temperature, it is concluded that the destruction of eonymphal reserves during diapause proceeds very slowly and has no practical effect upon fecundity of females issuing after prolonged diapause.