TY - JOUR
T1 - Fluctuations in nutrient composition affect male reproductive output in Drosophila melanogaster
AU - Davies, Lucy Rebecca
AU - Schou, Mads F.
AU - Kristensen, Torsten N.
AU - Loeschcke, Volker
PY - 2019/10
Y1 - 2019/10
N2 - Insects are known to selectively balance their intake of protein and carbohydrate to optimize reproduction and survival. For insects who feed on decomposing fruit, fluctuations in macronutrient composition occur as fruits ripe and decomposition progresses which may challenge optimal resource allocation. Using Drosophila melanogaster, we tested the effect of macronutrient fluctuations and the variability of these fluctuations on starvation resistance and components of reproductive output; traits known to be sensitive to different protein to carbohydrate (P:C) ratios in the diet. For 8 days, flies were fed the same protein to carbohydrate (P:C) ratio (constant feeding), or fed diets with fluctuations in P:C ratio on each day; these fluctuations being regular (predictably fluctuating) or irregular (unpredictably fluctuating). The three feeding regimes yielded the same average P:C ratio across the duration of the experiment. We found no difference in starvation resistance across the feeding regimes. Interestingly, there was a sexual dimorphism in the effect on reproductive output with males performing worst in the unpredictable feeding regime, and with no effect of feeding regime on female performance. Our study provides evidence for means of adapting to fluctuating macronutrient composition and suggests females are more tactful than males in storing and allocating resources for reproduction.
AB - Insects are known to selectively balance their intake of protein and carbohydrate to optimize reproduction and survival. For insects who feed on decomposing fruit, fluctuations in macronutrient composition occur as fruits ripe and decomposition progresses which may challenge optimal resource allocation. Using Drosophila melanogaster, we tested the effect of macronutrient fluctuations and the variability of these fluctuations on starvation resistance and components of reproductive output; traits known to be sensitive to different protein to carbohydrate (P:C) ratios in the diet. For 8 days, flies were fed the same protein to carbohydrate (P:C) ratio (constant feeding), or fed diets with fluctuations in P:C ratio on each day; these fluctuations being regular (predictably fluctuating) or irregular (unpredictably fluctuating). The three feeding regimes yielded the same average P:C ratio across the duration of the experiment. We found no difference in starvation resistance across the feeding regimes. Interestingly, there was a sexual dimorphism in the effect on reproductive output with males performing worst in the unpredictable feeding regime, and with no effect of feeding regime on female performance. Our study provides evidence for means of adapting to fluctuating macronutrient composition and suggests females are more tactful than males in storing and allocating resources for reproduction.
KW - Fluctuating environments
KW - Nutrient availability
KW - Protein to carbohydrate ratios
KW - Sexual dimorphism
KW - Starvation resistance
KW - Unpredictable environments
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85072162367&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2019.103940
DO - 10.1016/j.jinsphys.2019.103940
M3 - Journal article
C2 - 31493390
AN - SCOPUS:85072162367
SN - 0022-1910
VL - 118
JO - Journal of Insect Physiology
JF - Journal of Insect Physiology
M1 - 103940
ER -