The induction of larval resource preference in heterogeneous habitats

Animals often have to evaluate and choose between multiple food sources in their habitat, and these potentially complex decisions can have a large impact on their fitness. Among other factors, previous experience with an alternative resource can significantly increase subsequent preference for the resource (\"induction of preference\"). Such induction of resource preference is particularly relevant in spatially or temporally heterogeneous habitats. Although most mobile species - especially generalists - probably frequently encounter habitat heterogeneity, the impact of preference induction on individual behaviour and fitness in heterogeneous habitats is poorly understood. We analysed larval preference induction in wheat-adapted generalist red flour beetles (Tribolium castaneum) under three types of habitat heterogeneity. We first analysed the induction of larval preference for novel resources (other cereal flours) under temporal heterogeneity, exposing larvae to new resources during development. We found that larvae preferred a new resource if they experienced it recently, but that the magnitude of induction varied across resources. Interestingly, we also observed specific induction for a homogenous mix of wheat and a novel resource, with larvae preferring the mix over either pure resource. To analyse induction under spatial heterogeneity, we placed beetle eggs in one of two alternative resource patches and tested the preference of emerged larvae. Unexpectedly, hatching into a novel resource did not always induce preference. Finally, we found that induction of preference for new resources could be maladaptive for larval development. Together, our work demonstrates that experience-based plasticity of larval resource choice may strongly impact larval preference and fitness in heterogeneous habitats.