Abstract Inter-individual variation in lifetime reproduction is the key target for natural selection, and it is influenced by many factors. Yet, we lack an understanding of how abiotic and biotic factors interact to influence lifetime reproductive output (number of offspring) and reproductive effort (total biomass invested into reproduction). Thus, we used a factorial design to manipulate variability in food availability and temperature while also accounting for mate quality. We tested hypotheses related to estimates of lifetime reproductive output and effort in females of the wing-dimorphic sand field cricket ( Gryllus firmus ). Environmental variability influenced a temporal tradeoff of reproduction because females experiencing fluctuating temperatures had a particular bias toward reproductive output during early adulthood. Also, complex environmental variability (i.e., multiple and co-varying environmental factors) influenced differential allocation, which is when individuals adjust their reproductive efforts according to mate quality. Females mated to higher quality males laid more eggs only in environments that were highly stable (constant temperature and ad libitum food access). Reproductive effort was affected by a food–temperature interaction—fluctuating temperatures promoted egg production when food was limited, while constant temperature promoted egg production when food was abundant. Although a wing dimorphism mediates a well-established flight–fecundity tradeoff during early adulthood in G. firmus , short- and long-winged morphs exhibited similar lifetime reproduction and responded similarly to complex environmental variability. Given the natural co-variation of many environmental factors (e.g., water limitation often accompanies heat waves), we encourage continued work examining the role of complex environmental variability in tradeoffs related to reproductive decision-making and allocation. Significance statement It is unclear how abiotic and biotic factors interact to influence lifetime reproductive output (number of offspring) and reproductive effort (total biomass invested into reproduction). Thus, we examined the effects of mate quality and complex environmental variability (variable food and temperature) on several metrics of lifetime reproduction. Female crickets mated to high-quality males had greater reproductive output, but only in highly stable or environmental conditions. Fluctuating temperatures biased reproductive output toward early adulthood, particularly in short-winged females. Reproductive effort was affected by a food–temperature interaction—fluctuating temperatures promoted egg production when food was limited, while constant temperature promoted egg production when food was abundant. Females can also retain unfertilized eggs, and egg retention (i.e., unrealized fitness potential) was influenced by a combination of mate quality and complex environments. Thus, it is important to carefully consider the interplay between biotic and abiotic factors in aspects of lifetime reproduction and reproductive decision-making.

中文翻译：

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什么时候看起来很重要？配偶质量和环境变异对终生繁殖的影响

摘要 终生繁殖的个体间变异是自然选择的关键目标，受多种因素影响。然而，我们缺乏对非生物和生物因素如何相互作用以影响终生繁殖产出（后代数量）和繁殖努力（投资于繁殖的总生物量）的理解。因此，我们使用因子设计来控制食物供应和温度的可变性，同时也考虑到配偶质量。我们测试了与翼二形沙场蟋蟀（ Gryllus Firmus ）雌性终生生殖产出和努力估计相关的假设。环境可变性影响了繁殖的时间权衡，因为经历温度波动的雌性在成年早期对繁殖输出有特别的偏见。还，复杂的环境可变性（即多重和共同变化的环境因素）影响差异分配，即个体根据配偶质量调整其繁殖努力。与更高质量的雄性交配的雌性仅在高度稳定的环境（恒温和随意食物获取）中产下更多的卵。繁殖力受到食物-温度相互作用的影响——当食物有限时，温度波动会促进产蛋量，而当食物充足时，恒温会促进产蛋量。尽管在 G.firmus 的成年早期，翅膀二态性介导了成熟的飞行 - 繁殖力权衡，但短翅和长翅形态表现出相似的终生繁殖，并对复杂的环境变化做出相似的反应。鉴于许多环境因素的自然共变（例如，水限制通常伴随着热浪），我们鼓励继续研究复杂的环境变化在与生殖决策和分配相关的权衡中的作用。意义声明 目前尚不清楚非生物和生物因素如何相互作用以影响终生繁殖产出（后代数量）和繁殖努力（投资于繁殖的总生物量）。因此，我们研究了配偶质量和复杂的环境变化（可变食物和温度）对几个终生繁殖指标的影响。与优质雄性交配的雌性蟋蟀具有更高的繁殖能力，但仅限于高度稳定或环境条件下。波动的温度使生殖输出偏向成年早期，尤其是短翅雌性。繁殖力受食物-温度相互作用的影响——当食物有限时，温度波动会促进产蛋量，而当食物充足时，恒温会促进产蛋量。雌性也可以保留未受精的卵，而卵保留（即未实现的健康潜力）受配偶质量和复杂环境的综合影响。因此，在终生繁殖和繁殖决策方面仔细考虑生物和非生物因素之间的相互作用是很重要的。雌性也可以保留未受精的卵，而卵保留（即未实现的健康潜力）受配偶质量和复杂环境的综合影响。因此，在终生繁殖和繁殖决策方面仔细考虑生物和非生物因素之间的相互作用是很重要的。雌性也可以保留未受精的卵，而卵保留（即未实现的健康潜力）受配偶质量和复杂环境的综合影响。因此，在终生繁殖和繁殖决策方面仔细考虑生物和非生物因素之间的相互作用是很重要的。