Maternal effects on phase characteristics in the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria: a review of current understanding.
Desert locusts demonstrate pronounced density-dependent polyphenism: a complex suite of traits shifts over the lifetime of an individual in response to crowding or isolation. These changes also accumulate across generations through a maternal effect. Female desert locusts alter the developmental trajectory of their offspring in response to their own experience of crowding. The mother possesses a memory of both the recency and extent of crowding and shifts the phase state of her hatchlings accordingly. Extensive experimental work has shown that offspring behaviour is controlled by a low molecular weight, polar compound (or compounds) released from the mother's accessory glands. The chemical identity of this agent is not yet known.
Simpson
Stephen J
SJ
School of Biological Sciences, The University of Sydney, Heydon-Laurence Building A08, NSW 2006, Australia. stephen.simpson@bio.usyd.edu.au
Miller
Gabriel A
GA
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006110:Grasshoppers / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D009035:Mothers; D010641:Phenotype; D010858:Pigmentation / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D011156:Population Density