The ability to disperse is vital for all organisms, but especially for those whose habitats
deteriorate, necessitating relocation to better feeding or breeding sites. Phoresy is assisted …

Highlights•Recent theory sheds light on why sensitive periods exist.•Model predictions are
challenging to test, requiring complex experimental designs.•Insects are ideal study systems …

Simple Summary The benefits of rearing chicks in complex environments rather than barren
environments are well established. However, the typical rearing environments for modern …

Harsh environmental conditions in form of low food availability for both offspring and parents
alike can affect breeding behavior and success. There has been evidence that food scarce …

Life history theory emphasizes that finite resources result in allocation trade-offs among the
competing interests of self-maintenance, growth, reproduction, and survival. Environmental …

Intraspecific competition and food shortage due to high population density during early life
can have a profound effect on adult fitness. Organisms often mitigate negative effects of high …

Interspecific interactions exist along a continuum from parasitism to mutualism, but the
fitness costs and benefits of these associations may be fluid, depending on factors like …

Developmental conditions including temperature, diet, and parasites can shape adult fitness
phenotypes in many species. Studies typically focus on the additive effects of early-life and …

Intraspecific variation in ecologically relevant traits is critical for animal populations to
survive in our rapidly changing world. This is especially true for species that suffer from …

Early experience of a complex environment can improve biologically relevant traits related to
co** abilities. However, the mechanisms underlying these positive effects are not well …