An empirical test of bet-hedging polyandry hypothesis in the field cricket Gryllus bimaculatus

Abstract Theory shows that polyandry (mating with multiple males within a reproductive season) works as bet-hedging to increase the geometric mean fitness (GMF) of polyandrous genotype over generations and avoid extinction but it was rarely tested empirically. In this study, we distributed eggs Gryllus bimaculatus females mated 1–4 treatment) into 4 petri dishes different conditions: 25 °C/fresh water, 37 °C/salt simulating clutches laid at sites are suffered environmental change. The egg hatching rate obtained 7 blocks for each mating treatment. general, significantly more hatched in °C than fresh water salt water. failure (no per dish) frequently occurred monandry 2-male polyandry. Next, considered successive virtual calculated within-generation arithmetic (AMF) among same treatment between-generation GMF AMF across generations. Randomization test 3- 4-male were higher monandry. This study risk from only once can be avoided by bet-hedging.