Monarch caterpillars are robust to combined exposure to the roadside micronutrients sodium and zinc.

ABSTRACT: Human activities are increasing the environmental availability of micronutrients, including sodium and some essential metals. Micronutrients are often limiting in animal diets but may have negative effects when consumed in excess. Though prior research has documented how elevated exposure to individual micronutrients can impact organismal development and fitness, we know less about combined effects of multiple micronutrients. In the wild, monarch butterfly larvae (Danaus plexippus) commonly consume plants in roadside habitats that contain elevated levels of sodium (from road salt) and zinc (from vehicle wear-and-tear). We reared monarch caterpillars to adulthood to test individual and combined effects of dietary sodium and zinc on components of fitness, sodium-linked phenotypes (pro

SUBMITTER: Shephard AM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8354372 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature