1. Resource variability and multiple life history strategies Adi Boon

2. Why do some individuals outperform others in all aspects of their life history? Genetic variation in ability to acquire resources may mask costs of reproduction Genetic variation in ability to acquire resources may mask costs of reproduction

3. Genotype X Environment interactions When resource availability varies, there can be multiple life history strategies maintained in a population When resource availability varies, there can be multiple life history strategies maintained in a population Fast strategy could be costly, especially when resources are scarce Fast strategy could be costly, especially when resources are scarce –e.g. through higher metabolic rates that result in high minimum resource requirements

4. Individuals with a fast life history strategy should have -Greater investment in reproduction -Higher activity levels -Higher DEE (FMR), BMR and Summit MR than individuals with a slow strategy, and therefore greater reproductive success only when resource availability is high

5. Does this happen in squirrels? Are metabolic rates and life history strategies heritable? Are metabolic rates and life history strategies heritable? Is there an interaction between resource availability, metabolic rates and reproductive success? Is there an interaction between resource availability, metabolic rates and reproductive success?

6. Proposed methods Dataset Dataset –Reproductive investment/ success data –Heritability of life history traits? –Heritability of metabolic rates?

7. Proposed methods Field: Field: –20 food add + 20 control females (fewer?) –FMR in winter, late lactation, cone caching –Activity indexes from focals –Basal and summit MR after weaning –Reproductive success –Caching effort focals? Territorial cone counts? Cached cone counts?

8. Will this work?