The remoulding of dietary effects on the fecundity / longevity trade-off in a social insect.

ABSTRACT:

Background

In many organisms increased reproductive effort is associated with a shortened life span. This trade-off is reflected in conserved molecular pathways that link nutrient-sensing with fecundity and longevity. Social insect queens apparently defy the fecundity / longevity trade-off as they are both, extremely long-lived and highly fecund. Here, we have examined the effects of a protein-enriched diet on these life-history traits and on tissue-specific gene expression in a termite species of low social complexity.

Results

On a colony level, we did not observe reduced lifespan and increased fecundity, effects typically seen in solitary model organisms, after protein enrichment. Instead, on the individual level mortality was reduced in queens that consumed more of the pr

SUBMITTER: Rau V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10163710 | biostudies-literature | 2023 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature