Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
http://doi.org/10.25358/openscience-8569
Authors: | Choppin, Marina Schall, Miriam Feldmeyer, Barbara Foitzik, Susanne |
Title: | Protein-rich diet decreases survival, but does not alter reproduction, in fertile ant workers |
Online publication date: | 29-Mar-2023 |
Year of first publication: | 2023 |
Language: | english |
Abstract: | Aging is associated with diverse molecular processes such as oxidative damage, decrease in immunocompetence, or increase in epigenetic abnormalities, mutations, and inflammations. Many of these processes are linked to nutrient-sensing signalling pathways, suggesting that diet plays a critical role in the aging process. In fact, the protein content in the diet can affect both longevity and fecundity, but often in opposite directions. In many solitary organisms, protein-rich diets dramatically shorten lifespan, but increase egg production. We used the ant Temnothorax rugatulus to investigate the effect of the protein to carbohydrate ratio in the diet on the survival and fecundity of fertile workers. We fed colonies either a moderately high-carbohydrate or high-protein diet (1:2 and 2:1 respectively) and monitored worker survival and egg production over 9 weeks. The protein-rich diet did not alter the ability of workers to lay eggs, but reduced worker survival, suggesting that consuming large amounts of protein may shorten lifespan in fertile ant workers without promoting reproduction. Our study shows for the first time that a protein-rich diet reduces the overall fitness of fertile workers. |
DDC: | 570 Biowissenschaften 570 Life sciences |
Institution: | Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz |
Department: | FB 10 Biologie |
Place: | Mainz |
ROR: | https://ror.org/023b0x485 |
DOI: | http://doi.org/10.25358/openscience-8569 |
Version: | Published version |
Publication type: | Zeitschriftenaufsatz |
Document type specification: | Scientific article |
License: | CC BY |
Information on rights of use: | https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ |
Journal: | Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 10 |
Publisher: | Frontiers |
Publisher place: | Lausanne |
Issue date: | 2023 |
Publisher DOI: | 10.3389/fevo.2022.1098245 |
Appears in collections: | DFG-491381577-G |
Files in This Item:
File | Description | Size | Format | ||
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![]() | proteinrich_diet_decreases_su-20230112135323057.pdf | 519.35 kB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |