Sex-differences in nutrient intake can reduce the potential for sexual conflict over fitness maximisation by female and male crickets

As females and males have different roles in reproduction, they are expected to require different nutrients for the expression of reproductive traits. However, due to their shared genome, both sexes may be constrained in the regulation of nutrient intake that maximises sex specific fitness. Here, we used the Geometric Framework for nutrition to examine the effect of macronutrient and micronutrient intakes on lifespan, fecundity, and cuticular hydrocarbons (CHCs) that signal mate quality to prospective mates in female field crickets, Teleogryllus oceanicus. In addition, we contrasted nutritional effects on life-history traits between males and females to determine how sex differences influence nutrient regulation. We found that carbohydrate intake maximised female lifespan and protein intake influenced CHC expression, while early life fecundity (cumulative fecundity at Day 21) and lifetime fecundity were dependent on both macronutrient and micronutrient intakes. Fecundity required differ...