Moving targets : nutritional geometry of development in solitary bee, Osmia bicornis

Howard, Charlotte

Abstract

Eating the correct amount, and balance, of nutrients is key for fitness at the individual, and population level. Understanding dietary nutrient requirements and feeding behaviour is integral to addressing important questions, such as how an organism is able to respond and adapt to its nutritional environment, and the fitness consequences associated. We know that the relationships between nutrient intake and fitness can vary across different life stages, such as adults versus young. To date, the majority of studies have focused on single points in time or looked at overall patterns across whole life stages, and few have focused on age related shifts in nutritional requirements within a single life stage. In holometabolous insects, such as bees, the nutrients eaten during the larval stage have persistent effects on fitness. The majority of existing research in bee nutrition is limited to adults of social species, despite knowledge that most bee species are solitary. In this study, building on the work by Austin and Gilbert (2018), I re-focused the analysis onto weekly changes during the larval developmental period of important pollinator species, Osmia bicornis, to examine the changes over time in the relationship between nutrient consumption and fitness. I used data from nutritional geometry feeding experiments with six artificial protein-carbohydrate diets, two major macronutrients considered critical to insect development. I found that rules governing consumption changed over the developmental stage, and accordingly, so did the patterns of growth. I showed an age-related behavioural shift towards carbohydrate intake regulation. Macronutrient dilution of the diet carried costs to all measured traits. This study highlights that the rules governing feeding behaviour can be complex and dynamic, and could have important implications for the design of habitats for conservation of wild and domestic bees.

Citation

Howard, C. (2020). Moving targets : nutritional geometry of development in solitary bee, Osmia bicornis. (Thesis). University of Hull. Retrieved from https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4223762

• Thesis Type: Thesis
• Deposit Date: Dec 24, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 24, 2023
• Keywords: Biological sciences
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4223762
• Additional Information: Department of Biological & Marine Science, The University of Hull
• Award Date: Sep 1, 2020