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Dietary selection and nutritional regulation in a common mixed-feeding insect herbivore.
- Source :
-
Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata . Jul2013, Vol. 148 Issue 1, p20-26. 7p. 1 Chart, 3 Graphs. - Publication Year :
- 2013
-
Abstract
- The geometric framework provides a way for understanding the multi-dimensional nutritional relationships between consumers and their food. We use this approach to further our understanding of the feeding and nutritional ecology of a ubiquitous mixed-feeding insect herbivore that consumes a variety of host plants spanning a wide range of nutritional composition. Our overall objective was to examine feeding decisions, resulting performance, and post-ingestive consequences in a common mixed-feeding insect herbivore, Melanoplus bivittatus ( Say) ( Orthoptera: Acrididae), when presented with paired diets differing in protein:carbohydrate (p:c) ratio. Intake p:c of M. bivittatus differed among all but two treatments and in many cases was farther than expected from the previously identified p:c intake target for this species. Despite this variability in intake of protein and carbohydrate, we found few effects of the diet treatments on performance or post-ingestive processing. However, our results suggest that when feeding on high-quality diets, nutrients consumed in excess may be stored rather than excreted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 00138703
- Volume :
- 148
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Entomologia Experimentalis et Applicata
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 88263871
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1111/eea.12065