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Larval nutrition impacts survival to adulthood, body size and the allometric scaling of metabolic rate in adult honeybees

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posted on 2023-06-10, 05:39 authored by Beth NichollsBeth Nicholls, Marta Rossi, Jeremy NivenJeremy Niven
Resting metabolic rate (RMR) is a fundamental physiological measure linked to numerous aspects of organismal function, including lifespan. Although dietary restriction in insects during larval growth/development affects adult RMR, the impact of the nutritional composition of larval diets (i.e. diet quality) on adult RMR has not been studied. Using in vitro rearing to control larval diet quality, we determined the effect of dietary protein and carbohydrate on honeybee survival to adulthood, time to eclosion, body mass/size and adult RMR. High carbohydrate larval diets increased survival to adulthood and time to eclosion compared with both low carbohydrate and high protein diets. Upon emergence, bees reared on the high protein diet were smaller and lighter than those reared on other diets, whilst those raised on the high carbohydrate diet varied more in body mass. Newly emerged adult bees reared on the high carbohydrate diet showed a significantly steeper increase in allometric scaling of RMR compared with those reared on other diets. This suggests that the nutritional composition of larval diets influences survival to adulthood, time to eclosion and the allometric scaling of RMR. Given that agricultural intensification and increasing urbanisation have led to a decrease in both forage availability and dietary diversity for bees, our results are critical to improving understanding of the impacts of poor developmental nutrition on bee growth/development and physiology.

History

Publication status

  • Published

File Version

  • Published version

Journal

Journal of Experimental Biology

ISSN

0022-0949

Publisher

The Company of Biologists

Issue

14

Volume

224

Page range

jeb242393 1-10

Event location

England

Department affiliated with

  • Evolution, Behaviour and Environment Publications

Full text available

  • Yes

Peer reviewed?

  • Yes

Legacy Posted Date

2022-12-12

First Open Access (FOA) Date

2022-12-12

First Compliant Deposit (FCD) Date

2022-12-09

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