Transgenerational and reproductive impacts of acute early-life radiation on the house cricket, Acheta domesticus

Abstract

Stress is ubiquitous for all organisms, however, impacts vary depending on type and strength of the stressor, as well as the organism’s tolerance. Currently, ionizing radiation is described by the “linear no threshold” model. However, considerable research suggests that a hormetic or threshold model may better describe radiation exposure. Using male house crickets the impacts of early-life radiation on life history and reproductive traits, molecular biomarkers, and trans-generational impacts were analyzed. Generally, radiation impacts were best described by non-linear modelling. Multiple aspects of sexual signalling were disrupted by radiation, and impacts emerged in F1 offspring through extended longevity and superior survivorship.