The effects of 3 different diets on mass and metabolic rate in Diploptera punctata
Presenter Type
UNO Undergraduate Student
Major/Field of Study
Biology
Other
biology
Advisor Information
Assistant Professor of Biology Department of Biology | 109B Allwine Hall
Location
MBSC Ballroom Poster # 1303 - U
Presentation Type
Poster
Start Date
24-3-2023 10:30 AM
End Date
24-3-2023 11:45 AM
Abstract
Diploptera punctata is a blaberid cockroach known for giving live birth and producing “milk” to feed it‘s developing embryos, and as a result is a promising model animal for future research in insect endocrinology and resource allocation. An insect's metabolism can be influenced depending on what food resources they have available. Food sources that have poor nutritional value or are difficult for the insect to digest will either cause the metabolism to increase to compensate for the non-efficient digestion or will slow the metabolism to a halt to conserve its energy until more favorable food options are available. In this study, we looked at the effects of 3 different food types on the metabolism of adult male and female Diploptera punctata. The Dog food group (DF), which is the optimum standard diet for laboratory rearing and acts as the control, the Lettuce group (L), and the apple group (A). We hypothesized that the metabolic rate would increase for group (L) and to a lesser extent group (A), and that dog food would remain that same as it is the standard food. Results indicated that the lettuce group was the least healthy, with an increase in metabolism of 0.00243 ppm CO2/hr/g and a significant decrease in weight of 0.03898 grams compared to the other 2 groups. The apple group had a small increase in metabolism of 0.00094 ppm CO2/hr/g and a significant gain in weight of 0.0501 grams over the diet period while the dog food group showed a significant decrease in metabolism of 0.003646 ppm CO2/hr/g with a small gain in weight of 0.0171 grams. It is thought that these effects in metabolism could be due to the disruption of the gut microbiome. Studies regarding the effect on the gut microbiome are ongoing.
Scheduling
10:45 a.m.-Noon
The effects of 3 different diets on mass and metabolic rate in Diploptera punctata
MBSC Ballroom Poster # 1303 - U
Diploptera punctata is a blaberid cockroach known for giving live birth and producing “milk” to feed it‘s developing embryos, and as a result is a promising model animal for future research in insect endocrinology and resource allocation. An insect's metabolism can be influenced depending on what food resources they have available. Food sources that have poor nutritional value or are difficult for the insect to digest will either cause the metabolism to increase to compensate for the non-efficient digestion or will slow the metabolism to a halt to conserve its energy until more favorable food options are available. In this study, we looked at the effects of 3 different food types on the metabolism of adult male and female Diploptera punctata. The Dog food group (DF), which is the optimum standard diet for laboratory rearing and acts as the control, the Lettuce group (L), and the apple group (A). We hypothesized that the metabolic rate would increase for group (L) and to a lesser extent group (A), and that dog food would remain that same as it is the standard food. Results indicated that the lettuce group was the least healthy, with an increase in metabolism of 0.00243 ppm CO2/hr/g and a significant decrease in weight of 0.03898 grams compared to the other 2 groups. The apple group had a small increase in metabolism of 0.00094 ppm CO2/hr/g and a significant gain in weight of 0.0501 grams over the diet period while the dog food group showed a significant decrease in metabolism of 0.003646 ppm CO2/hr/g with a small gain in weight of 0.0171 grams. It is thought that these effects in metabolism could be due to the disruption of the gut microbiome. Studies regarding the effect on the gut microbiome are ongoing.