Larval competition and genetic diversity in Tribolium castaneum

Abstract

Compared the survival of sib groups and random groups of larvae of flour beetle maintained at high population density. Random groups survived longer, related to a higher early mortality, which reduced competition in the long run in these groups. A clear increase in between-group variability for survival was found in the sib groups, implying the presence of genetic variance for competitive ability at constant initial densities in this species. -from Authors