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Transcriptomes of parents identify parenting strategies and sexual conflict in a subsocial beetle

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Listed:
  • Darren J. Parker

    (Centre for Biological Diversity, School of Biology, University of St Andrews
    University of Jyväskylä)

  • Christopher B. Cunningham

    (University of Georgia)

  • Craig A. Walling

    (Centre for Ecology and Conservation, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter
    Institute of Evolutionary Biology, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh)

  • Clare E. Stamper

    (Centre for Ecology and Conservation, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter)

  • Megan L. Head

    (Centre for Ecology and Conservation, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter
    Ecology and Genetics, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University)

  • Eileen M. Roy-Zokan

    (University of Georgia)

  • Elizabeth C. McKinney

    (University of Georgia)

  • Michael G. Ritchie

    (Centre for Biological Diversity, School of Biology, University of St Andrews)

  • Allen J. Moore

    (University of Georgia
    Centre for Ecology and Conservation, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter)

Abstract

Parenting in the burying beetle Nicrophorus vespilloides is complex and, unusually, the sex and number of parents that can be present is flexible. Such flexibility is expected to involve specialized behaviour by the two sexes under biparental conditions. Here, we show that offspring fare equally well regardless of the sex or number of parents present. Comparing transcriptomes, we find a largely overlapping set of differentially expressed genes in both uniparental and biparental females and in uniparental males including vitellogenin, associated with reproduction, and takeout, influencing sex-specific mating and feeding behaviour. Gene expression in biparental males is similar to that in non-caring states. Thus, being ‘biparental’ in N. vespilloides describes the family social organization rather than the number of directly parenting individuals. There was no specialization; instead, in biparental families, direct male parental care appears to be limited with female behaviour unchanged. This should lead to strong sexual conflict.

Suggested Citation

  • Darren J. Parker & Christopher B. Cunningham & Craig A. Walling & Clare E. Stamper & Megan L. Head & Eileen M. Roy-Zokan & Elizabeth C. McKinney & Michael G. Ritchie & Allen J. Moore, 2015. "Transcriptomes of parents identify parenting strategies and sexual conflict in a subsocial beetle," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 6(1), pages 1-12, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:6:y:2015:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms9449
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms9449
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