Presentation Details
| Interactions Between Immune Challenge and Diet Treatments in Gryllodes sigillatus Elizabeth V.Frias, Ned A.Dochtermann, Korie DeBardlabon. North Dakota State University, Fargo, ND, USA |
Abstract
Exposure to pathogens and parasites is a constant threat to insects in the wild. Although insect immune responses have been widely studied, the role of nutritional intake in shaping these responses is often overlooked. We address this gap by examining how immune challenge interacts with diet treatment in tropical house crickets, Gryllodes sigillatus. Crickets were provided with one of three test diets–high protein, high carbohydrate, and a standard diet–during development and then infected with the DH5ɑ strain of Escherichia coli at maturation. After infection, physiological, immunological, and behavioral traits were measured. We expect individuals on a high-protein diet to exhibit stronger immune responses and higher overall condition versus individuals on a standard diet. Individuals on a high-carbohydrate diet are expected to show reduced immune responses. Additionally, we predict that males on a high-carbohydrate diet will display increased aggression but lower sperm quality. This work contributes to our understanding of the impacts of environmental stressors on insect communities and how individuals allocate resources under stressful conditions.
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No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.
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