scholarly journals Stable Isotope Enrichment (Δ15N) in the Predatory Flower Bug (Orius majusculus) Predicts Fitness-Related Differences between Diets

Insects ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 255
Author(s):  
Marta Montoro ◽  
Per M. Jensen ◽  
Lene Sigsgaard
Keyword(s):  
Diet Quality ◽  
Isotopic Ratio ◽  
Isotope Analysis ◽  
Mass Rearing ◽  
Isotope Enrichment ◽  
Orius Majusculus ◽  
Food And Feed ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Biochemical Analyses ◽  
Δ15n And Δ13c

Mass rearing of insects, used both as biological control agents and for food and feed, is receiving increasing attention. Efforts are being made to improve diets that are currently in use, and to identify alternative diets, as is the case with the predatory flower bug (Orius majusculus) and other heteropteran predators, due to the high costs of their current diet, the eggs of the Mediterranean flour moth (E. kuehniella). The assessment of alternative diets may include measurements of the predator’s fitness-related traits (development time, weight, etc.), and biochemical analyses such as lipid and protein content in the diet and the insects. However, assessing diet quality via the predator’s fitness-related traits is laborious, and biochemical composition is often difficult to relate to the measured traits. Isotope analysis, previously used for diet reconstruction studies, can also serve as a tool for the assessment of diet quality. Here, the variation in discrimination factors or isotope enrichment (Δ15N and Δ13C) indicates the difference in isotopic ratio between the insect and its diet. In this study, we investigated the link between Δ15N and diet quality in the predatory bug Orius majusculus. Three groups of bugs were fed different diets: Ephestia kuehniella eggs, protein-rich Drosophila melanogaster and lipid-rich D. melanogaster. The isotopic enrichment and fitness-related measurements were assessed for each group. Results show a relation between Δ15N and fitness-related measurements, which conform to the idea that lower Δ15N indicates a higher diet quality.

scholarly journals Tracing the Trophic Plasticity of the Coral–Dinoflagellate Symbiosis Using Amino Acid Compound-Specific Stable Isotope Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 182
Author(s):  
Christine Ferrier-Pagès ◽  
Stephane Martinez ◽  
Renaud Grover ◽  
Jonathan Cybulski ◽  
Eli Shemesh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acids ◽  
Essential Role ◽  
Isotope Analysis ◽  
Diagnostic Tools ◽  
Global Changes ◽  
Biosynthetic Pathways ◽  
Trophic Plasticity ◽  
Trophic Index ◽  
Δ15n And Δ13c ◽  
Acid Compound

The association between corals and photosynthetic dinoflagellates is one of the most well-known nutritional symbioses, but nowadays it is threatened by global changes. Nutritional exchanges are critical to understanding the performance of this symbiosis under stress conditions. Here, compound-specific δ15N and δ13C values of amino acids (δ15NAA and δ13CAA) were assessed in autotrophic, mixotrophic and heterotrophic holobionts as diagnostic tools to follow nutritional interactions between the partners. Contrary to what was expected, heterotrophy was mainly traced through the δ15N of the symbiont’s amino acids (AAs), suggesting that symbionts directly profit from host heterotrophy. The trophic index (TP) ranged from 1.1 to 2.3 from autotrophic to heterotrophic symbionts. In addition, changes in TP across conditions were more significant in the symbionts than in the host. The similar δ13C-AAs signatures of host and symbionts further suggests that symbiont-derived photosynthates are the main source of carbon for AAs synthesis. Symbionts, therefore, appear to be a key component in the AAs biosynthetic pathways, and might, via this obligatory function, play an essential role in the capacity of corals to withstand environmental stress. These novel findings highlight important aspects of the nutritional exchanges in the coral–dinoflagellates symbiosis. In addition, they feature δ15NAA as a useful tool for studies regarding the nutritional exchanges within the coral–symbiodiniaceae symbiosis.

Feeding of cuticles from Tenebrio molitor larvae modulates the gut microbiota and attenuates hepatic steatosis in obese Zucker rats

2022 ◽  
Author(s):  
Armaghan Saeb ◽  
Sarah Maria Grundmann ◽  
Denise K Gessner ◽  
Sven Schuchardt ◽  
Erika Most ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gut Microbiota ◽  
Hepatic Steatosis ◽  
Mass Rearing ◽  
Tenebrio Molitor ◽  
Zucker Rats ◽  
Insect Larvae ◽  
Food And Feed ◽  
Obese Zucker Rats ◽  
Tenebrio Molitor Larvae

an alternative and sustainable source of food and feed. A byproduct from mass-rearing of insect larvae are the shed cuticles - the most external components of insects which are a...

scholarly journals Exploring the Utility of Compound-Specific Isotope Analysis for Assessing Ferrous Iron-Mediated Reduction of RDX in the Subsurface

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yiran Tong ◽  
Matthew J. Berens ◽  
Bridget A. Ulrich ◽  
Jakov Bolotin ◽  
Jennifer H. Strehlau ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Groundwater Contamination ◽  
Ferrous Iron ◽  
Chemical Reduction ◽  
Isotope Analysis ◽  
Enrichment Factors ◽  
Isotope Enrichment ◽  
Compound Specific Isotope Analysis ◽  
A Site ◽  
Mediated Reduction

This work determines isotope enrichment factors for RDX during reduction by iron minerals. The values determined are used to assess the transformation of RDX at a site with groundwater contamination and in laboratory column reactors simulating in situ chemical reduction treatment.

scholarly journals Role of alternate healthy eating index (AHEI) in communicating the quality of diet

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 96-102
Author(s):  
Krishna Mohandas ◽  
L. Prema
Keyword(s):  
Healthy Eating ◽  
Diet Quality ◽  
Dietary Habits ◽  
Mean Value ◽  
Healthy Eating Index ◽  
Overweight And Obesity ◽  
Food Groups ◽  
Good Tool ◽  
The Difference

The food habits of global population has been evolving in such a way that makes unhealthy foods cheaper and widely available and healthy foods costly and less available. Being surrounded by such foods and living in an environment with lesser requirement for physical activity is the primary reason for the pandemic explosion in overweight and obesity. This study is an attempt to analyze the quality of diet with an aim to study the significance of Alternate Healthy Eating Index (AHEI) in predicting the quality of dietary intake. Methodology: The study was conducted in 66 respondents (44 females and 22 males) aged 18-65 years with BMI between 23 kg/m2 to 50 kg/m2. The respondent’s data were collected using a pretested standard questionnaire. The nutrient consumption was calculated from the 24 hour recall and the AHEI scores were derived from recall and food use frequency data. The data were analysed using SAS software. Results: The intake of Energy, protein, fat and carbohydrates were more than their requirement while intake of fibre was not meeting the requirement. The AHEI scores obtained ranged from 36 to 76 with a mean value of 55.6 ± 9.54. A positive linear association for AHEI with BMI (0.0362) and energy intake (0.13) was established through Pearson’s correlation while the association was negative with BMR (-0.14). Paired t test comparing AHEI against the difference between intake and requirement of macronutrients revealed that when the diet quality was good (as indicated by AHEI>51), the difference in intake exhibited a significant linear relationship with p values <0.001 while no relation was established when the diet quality was poor. Conclusion: AHEI encompasses all nutrients and food groups relevant to metabolic health and it can be used as a good tool to assess the quality of dietary habits of overweight and obese subjects.

scholarly journals Tracking host use by bat ectoparasites with stable isotope analysis

2016 ◽  
Vol 94 (5) ◽  
pp. 353-360 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulalume Hernández-Arciga ◽  
L. Gerardo Herrera M. ◽  
Juan B. Morales-Malacara
Keyword(s):  
Stable Isotope ◽  
Isotope Analysis ◽  
Enrichment Factors ◽  
Host Switching ◽  
Host Use ◽  
Higher Ed ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Anoura Geoffroyi ◽  
Leptonycteris Yerbabuenae ◽  
Host Parasite

We used C and N stable isotopes of nectarivorous bats and their ectoparasites to determine the extent to which parasites depend on the host individual for food. The difference in stable isotope values between parasites and host tissues (Δ13C and Δ15N) was used as a proxy of host use. First, we tested the hypothesis that movement among individual Mexican long-tongued bats (Choeronycteris mexicana Tschudi, 1844) is more likely to occur in winged flies than in mites as indicated by higher host–parasite isotopic Euclidian distance (ED). Second, we tested the hypothesis that ectoparasite species in two coexisting bat species representing the C3 (Geoffroy’s tailless bat, Anoura geoffroyi Gray, 1838) and the CAM (lesser long-nosed bat, Leptonycteris yerbabuenae Martínez and Villa-R., 1940) food chains were monoxenous as indicated by their isotopic values. We also examined Δ13C and Δ15N of individual parasites in relation to 13C and 15N reference enrichment factors as an indication of host switching. In general, flies in C. mexicana had higher ED and wider ranges of individual Δ13C and Δ15N than mites, suggesting that host switching occurred to a larger extent. Most ectoparasites species collected in both coexisting bats were monoxenous, but one fly species appears to be oligoxenous. Individual Δ13C and Δ15N values varied widely in these parasite species, suggesting movements within species hosts.

scholarly journals Provenance analysis of human cremations by 87Sr/86Sr isotopic ratios: migration into an Iron Age mining region in North-Rhine Westphalia

2018 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sidney V. Sebald ◽  
Manuel Zeiler ◽  
Gisela Grupe
Keyword(s):  
Iron Age ◽  
Isotopic Ratio ◽  
Isotope Analysis ◽  
Mining Industry ◽  
Isotopic Ratios ◽  
Burial Mound ◽  
Age At Death ◽  
Provenance Analysis ◽  
Morphological Examination ◽  
Non Local

The Siegerland (North-Rhine Westphalia, FRG) is famous for its early mining industry and ore exploitation. The archaeological context of cremated burials as well as grave goods indicate parallels to today's Wetterau (Hesse), suggesting migration into the Siegerland. After morphological examination of the cremations augmented by a histological age-at-death determination, provenance analysis by use of stable strontium isotope analysis was carried out. 60 individuals from the burial mound at Netphen-Deuz in the Siegerland were available for anthropological examination. The 87Sr/86Sr isotopic ratio was measured in 29 dentine and 15 bone samples. At least 19 individuals exhibited a non-local isotopic signal which was compatible with a provenance from the Wetterau region. Since 87Sr/86Sr isotopic ratios in the bioapatite are thermally stable, provenance analysis of cremated finds is thus possible, whereby a testable archaeological hypothesis is prerequisite. Histological examination of cremated bones proved indispensable for the age-at-death estimation.

Sustainable farming of the mealworm Tenebrio molitor for the production of food and feed

2017 ◽  
Vol 72 (9-10) ◽  
pp. 337-349 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thorben Grau ◽  
Andreas Vilcinskas ◽  
Gerrit Joop
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Plant Biomass ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Mass Rearing ◽  
Tenebrio Molitor ◽  
Livestock Farming ◽  
Important Species ◽  
Immune Priming ◽  
Food And Feed ◽  
Insect Gut

AbstractThe farming of edible insects is an alternative strategy for the production of protein-rich food and feed with a low ecological footprint. The industrial production of insect-derived protein is more cost-effective and energy-efficient than livestock farming or aquaculture. The mealwormTenebrio molitoris economically among the most important species used for the large-scale conversion of plant biomass into protein. Here, we review the mass rearing of this species and its conversion into food and feed, focusing on challenges such as the contamination of food/feed products with bacteria from the insect gut and the risk of rapidly spreading pathogens and parasites. We propose solutions to prevent the outbreak of infections among farmed insects without reliance on antibiotics. Transgenerational immune priming and probiotic bacteria may provide alternative strategies for sustainable insect farming.

Distribution of mercury species and mercury isotope ratios in soils and river suspended matter of a mercury mining area

2018 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 621-631 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carluvy Baptista-Salazar ◽  
Holger Hintelmann ◽  
Harald Biester
Keyword(s):  
Suspended Matter ◽  
Isotope Analysis ◽  
Isotope Ratios ◽  
Mining Area ◽  
Mercury Species ◽  
Isotope Enrichment ◽  
Heavy Isotope ◽  
Mercury Isotope ◽  
Species Transformation ◽  
Mercury Mining

Light/heavy isotope enrichment is strongly related with Hg species. Combining Hg isotope analysis and Hg speciation allows the differentiation between Hg sources and Hg species transformation in Hg contaminated areas.

Nutrition of beef breeder cows in the dry tropics. 2. Effects of time of weaning and diet quality on breeder performance

2011 ◽  
Vol 51 (6) ◽  
pp. 529 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. M. Dixon ◽  
C. Playford ◽  
D. B. Coates
Keyword(s):  
Diet Quality ◽  
Body Condition Score ◽  
Dry Season ◽  
Near Infrared Reflectance ◽  
Lactating Cows ◽  
Dry Tropics ◽  
Body Reserves ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Native Pasture ◽  
The Difference

In the seasonally dry tropics the effects of three times of weaning and three nutritional regimes on the changes in liveweight (LW) and body condition score (BCS) of grazing Bos indicus × Bos taurus breeder cows (n = 210) and their calves were examined through an annual cycle, commencing in the early dry season in April 1998. Most of the cows (n = 180) were lactating initially, and were weaned in April (W1), July (W2) or September (W3) to represent the expected early, mid and late dry season. In addition, cows that had not lactated for 11 months before the experiment commenced (NOCALF treatment; n = 30) were examined. The seasonal break occurred in late August, 3.5 months earlier than average for the site. The nutritional regimes consisted of a native pasture (LOW), another native pasture augmented with Stylosanthes spp. legumes (MEDIUM), or this latter pasture supplemented during the dry season with molasses-urea (HIGH). These nutritional regimes were imposed from the commencement of the experiment in April 1998 until February 1999, except that for the HIGH treatment the supplement was fed only during the dry season. Near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy of faeces (F.NIRS) was used to estimate the contents of non-grass, crude protein (CP) and DM digestibility of the diet selected, and also DM intake and metabolisable energy (ME) intake. Diet quality was in accord with the expected seasonal cycle, and was consistently lower (P < 0.05) for the LOW than for the MEDIUM treatment. Concentrations of CP and CP/MJ ME in the diet, and of N in faeces, indicated that the cows grazing the LOW treatment were deficient in rumen degradable protein during the dry season. There was no interaction (P > 0.05) between the nutritional regime and the time of weaning on changes in conceptus-free liveweight (CF.LW) or BCS during the dry season. Weaning increased breeder CF.LW, relative to lactating breeders, by 0.42 kg/day in the early dry season (April–July; the difference between the W1 and W2 treatments), and 0.18 kg/day in the usual mid dry season (July–September; the difference between the W2 and W3 treatments). The NOCALF treatment cows were initially 79 kg heavier than lactating cows, and lost more LW during the dry season. Microbial CP synthesis was 21 and 29% greater (P < 0.05) in lactating than in non-lactating cows in the late dry season and shortly after the seasonal break (August and September), respectively. Calf growth was not affected (P > 0.05) by nutritional regime during the early dry season (April–July), but was lower for the LOW nutritional regime during the usual mid dry season (July–September); this indicated that the LOW nutritional regime cows mobilised sufficient additional body reserves to maintain milk production during the former, but not the latter, interval. All cows that were lactating at the commencement of the experiment gained CF.LW rapidly from September 1998 following the seasonal break. In conclusion, although nutrition affected LW change of both cows and calves, there was a much larger effect of weaning than of the nutrition treatments examined on conservation of body reserves in breeder cows during the dry season. The observation that the effects of weaning on conservation of cow body reserves were similar across a wide range of nutrition is important for management to achieve appropriate targets for breeder cow body reserves.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document