Evol Ecol Res 5: 287-295 (2003)     Full PDF if your library subscribes.

Inbreeding not stress increases fluctuating asymmetry in the bulb mite

Jacek Radwan*

Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, ul. Ingardena 6, Cracow, Poland and Department of Biology, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USA

Address all correspondence to Jacek Radwan, Institute of Environmental Sciences, Jagiellonian University, ul. Ingardena 6, Cracow, Poland.
e-mail: radwan@eko.uj.edu.pl

ABSTRACT

In this study, I examined the effects of inbreeding and stress on fluctuating asymmetry and body length in the bulb mite, Rhizoglyphus robini. Mites were subjected to six generations of brother–sister mating and inbred lines were then crossed to obtain inbred and outbred progeny. At the larval stage, both the inbred and outbred progeny were divided between two treatments: the control was reared at a stable temperature of 22°C, whereas the stressed lines were kept under oscillating temperatures of between 10°C (night) and 28°C (day) until reaching adulthood. Fluctuating asymmetry, quantified by means of procrustean analysis based on five landmarks, and body length were measured for one male from each line. Fluctuating asymmetry increased with inbreeding but not with stress. In contrast, body length decreased with stress but not with inbreeding. There was no significant interaction between stress and inbreeding in their effect on either fluctuating asymmetry or body length.

Keywords: developmental stability, fluctuating asymmetry, heterozygosity, inbreeding depression, Rhizoglyphus robini.

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