Food utilization by insects: Interpretation of observed differences between dry weight and energy efficiencies

Over 80% of the values of approximate digestibility (AD), efficiency of conversion of assimilated food to biomass (ECD) and efficiency of conversion of ingested food (ECI) calculated using energy terms are greater than the corresponding dry weight (DW) values, based on data for over 65 species (38 studies; number of comparative values: AD=139, ECD=128 and ECI=169). Largest positive differences (energy > DW values) are 30 (AD, ECD) and 24 (ECI) percentage points and largest negative differences (energy < DW values) are 9 (AD), 11 (ECD) and 8 (ECI) percentage points. These differences generally are least for ECI (71% of the differences fall between 0 and +5 percentage points), and AD (68%), followed by ECD (only 47% fall between 0 and +5), and they may vary with temperature, food and other factors. The differences tend to increase (esp. for ECD and ECI) when comparing later with earlier instars. Energy > DW efficiency values are commonly expected for AD because of the generally greater energy content of food than feces, and for ECD and ECI because of the generally greater energy content of insect biomass than ingested and assimilated food. Deviations from predicted differences in surveyed literature data are discussed in terms of possible methodological sources of error.

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Résumé Plus de 80% des valeurs de la digestibilité approchée (AD), de l'efficacité de la conversion de la nourriture assimilée en biomasse (ECD) et de l'efficacité de la conversion de l'aliment ingéré (ECI), calculées en termes énergétiques, et obtenus à partir de données sur 65 espèces, sont supérieures aux valeurs des poids secs correspondants (DW): 38 études; valeurs comparatives: AD=139, ECD=128, ECI=169. Les plus importantes différences positive (énergie>valuers DW) sont de 30 (AD, ECD) et de 24 (ECI) centièmes (les différences négatives les plus fortes = 9 (AD), 11 (ECD) et 8 (ECI); ces différences sont moindres pour ECI (71% des différences tombent à 0 et +5 centièmes), et AD (68%), suivi de ECD (seulement 47% tombent entre 0 et +5). Ces différences peuvent varier avec la température, l'alimentation et d'autres facteurs; les différences tendent à croître (particulièrement pour ECD et ECI) quant on les compare plus tard avec des stades plus précoces. Energie > aux valeurs d'efficacité DW sont généralement attendues pour AD par suite du contenu énergétique supérieur de l'aliment à celui des excréments, et pour ECD et ECI par suite du contenu énergétique généralement plus élevé pour la biomasse de l'insecte que pour l'aliment ingéré et assimilé. Les écarts par rapport aux différences prédites dans les données de la littérature examinée sont analysées en considérant les sources possibles d'erreurs méthodologiques.

     

Identification of amino compounds synthesized and translocated in symbiotic Parasponia

We investigated the synthesis and translocation of amino compounds in Parasponia, a genus of the Ulmaceae that represents the only non-legumes known to form a root nodule symbiosis with rhizohia. In the xylem sap of P. andersonii we identified asparagine. aspartate. glutamine, glutamated significant quantities of a non-protein amino acid. 4-methylglutamte(2-amino-4-methylpentanedioic acid). This identification was confirmed by two methods, capillary gas chromatography (GC) electron ionization (El) mass spectrometry (MS) and reverse phase high pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis of derivatized compounds. In leaf, root and nodule samples from P. andersonii and P. parviflora we also identified the related compounds 4-methyleneglutamate and 4-methyleneglulamine. Using ¹⁵N₂ labelling and GC-Ms analysis of root nodule extracts we followed N₂ fixation and ammonia assimilation in P. andersonii root nodules and observed Label initially in glutamine and subsequently in glutamate, suggesting operation of the glutamine synthetase/glutamine:2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase (GS/GOGAT) pathway. Importantly, we observed the incorporation of significant quantities of ¹⁵N into 4-methylglutamate in nodules, demonstrating the de nova synthesis of this non protein amino acid and suggesting a role in the translation of N in symbioticParasponia.     

Metabolic engineering of a diazotrophic bacterium improves ammonium release and biofertilization of plants and microalgae

The biological nitrogen fixation carried out by some Bacteria and Archaea is one of the most attractive alternatives to synthetic nitrogen fertilizers. However, with the exception of the symbiotic rhizobia-legumes system, progress towards a more extensive realization of this goal has been slow. In this study we manipulated the endogenous regulation of both nitrogen fixation and assimilation in the aerobic bacterium Azotobacter vinelandii. Substituting an exogenously inducible promoter for the native promoter of glutamine synthetase produced conditional lethal mutant strains unable to grow diazotrophically in the absence of the inducer. This mutant phenotype could be reverted in a double mutant strain bearing a deletion in the nifL gene that resulted in constitutive expression of nif genes and increased production of ammonium. Under GS non-inducing conditions both the single and the double mutant strains consistently released very high levels of ammonium (>20 mM) into the growth medium. The double mutant strain grew and excreted high levels of ammonium under a wider range of concentrations of the inducer than the single mutant strain. Induced mutant cells could be loaded with glutamine synthetase at different levels, which resulted in different patterns of extracellular ammonium accumulation afterwards. Inoculation of the engineered bacteria into a microalgal culture in the absence of sources of C and N other than N₂ and CO₂ from the air, resulted in a strong proliferation of microalgae that was suppressed upon addition of the inducer. Both single and double mutant strains also promoted growth of cucumber plants in the absence of added N-fertilizer, while this property was only marginal in the parental strain. This study provides a simple synthetic genetic circuit that might inspire engineering of optimized inoculants that efficiently channel N₂ from the air into crops.     

Maximum energy assimilation rates in the Djungarian hamster (Phodopus sungorus)

Summary Physiological limits to energy budgets were estimated in Djungarian hamsters (Phodopus sungorus) using food balance and respirometric methods. The summer acclimatized, reproductively inactive hamsters could balance their energy budget at-2° C, assimilating 91.1 kJ·animal^-1· day^-1 after gradual cold acclimation, whereas non-acclimated hamsters showed negative energy balance assimilating only 54.4 kJ·animal^-1·day^-1. At the same ambient temperature, multiparous females (although neither pregnant nor lactating at the time) maintained positive energy balance assimilating 81.6 kJ·animal^-1·day^-1. Hamsters are capable of rapid adjustments of their maximum assimilation rates to meet their current energy demands, but only up to the value of about 3.5xBMR. It is concluded, that the actual energy budgets of small mammals keep, all the time, fairly near the upper physiological limit, with body reserves ready to buffer short-term oscillations.     

Nitrogen fixation and nitrate reduction in the root nodules of legumes

Published data on, and hypotheses regarding the effect of NO⁻₃ on functioning of legume root nodules are reviewed. It is concluded that a short-term reversible effect of NO⁻₃ may act via an increased resistance to O₂ diffusion in nodules; this is coupled to decreased bacteroid respiration. For longer exposures to NO⁻₃ nodule activity is irreversibly lost, but how this relates to carbohydrate deprivation or NO-₂ accumulation is unclear. Complicating factors include denitrification reactions and the interaction of NO⁻₂ with leghaemoglobin.     

Micronutrients and nitrogen metabolism

A sand-culture experiment was conducted to study the influence of a deficiency of and an excess of micronutrients on the uptake and assimilation of NH ₄ ⁺ and NO ₃ ⁻ ions by maize. By studying the fate of¹⁵N supplied as¹⁵NH₄NO₃ or NH₄ ¹⁵NO₃, it was demonstrated that in maize plants NH₄−N was absorbed in preference to NO ₃ ⁻ −N. The uptake and distribution of N originating from both NH ₄ ⁺ and NO ₃ ⁻ was considerably modified by deficiency of, or an excess of, micronutrients in the growth medium. The translocation of NH ₄ ⁺ −N from roots to shoots was relatively less than that of NO ₃ ⁻ −N. Deficiency as well as excessive amounts of micronutrients, in the growth medium, substantially reduced the translocation of absorbed N into protein. This effect was more pronounced in the case of N supplied as NO ₃ ⁻ . Amino-N was the predominant non-protein fraction in which N from both NH ₄ ⁺ and NO ₃ ⁻ tended to accumulate. The next important non-protein fractions were NO ₃ ⁻ −N when N was supplied as NO ₃ ⁻ and amide-N when NH ₄ ⁺ was the source. The relative accumulation of¹⁵N into different protein fractions was also a function of imposed micronutrient levels.     

Exogenous inorganic carbon sources for photosynthesis in seawater by members of the Fucales and the Laminariales (Phaeophyta): ecological and taxonomic implications

Summary Characteristics of inorganic carbon assimilation by photosynthesis in seawater were investigated in six species of the Fucales (five Fucaceae, one Cystoseiraceae) and four species of the Laminariales (three Laminariaceae, one Alariaceae) from Arbroath, Scotland. All of the algae tested could photosynthesise faster at high external pH values than the uncatalysed conversion of HCO ₃ ^- to CO₂ can occur, i.e. can use external HCO ₃ ^- . They all had detectable extracellular carbonic anhydrase activity, suggesting that HCO ₃ ^- use could involve catalysis of external CO₂ production, a view supported to some extent by experiments with an inhibitor of carbonic anhydrase. All of the algae tested had CO₂ compensation concentrations at pH 8 which were lower than would be expected from diffusive entry of CO₂ supplying RUBISCO as the initial carboxylase, consistent with the operation of energized entry of HCO ₃ ^- and / or CO₂ acting as a CO₂ concentrating mechanism. Quantitative differences among the algae examined were noted with respect to characteristics of inorganic C assimilation. The most obvious distinction was between the eulittoral Fucaceae, which are emersed for part of, or most of, the tidal cycle, and the other three families (Cystoseiraceae, Laminariaceae, Alariaceae) whose representatives are essentially continually submersed. The Fucaceae examined are able to photosynthesise at high pH values, and have lower CO₂ compensation concentrations, and lower K_1/2 values for inorganic C use in photosynthesis, at pH 8, than the other algae tested. Furthermore, the Fucaceae are essentially saturated with inorganic C for photosynthesis at the normal seawater concentration at pH 8 and 10°C. These characteristics are consistent with the dominant role of a CO₂ concentrating mechanism in CO₂ acquisition by these plants. Other species tested have characteristcs which suggest a less effective HCO ₃ ^- use and CO₂ concentrating mechanism, with the Laminariaceae being the least effective; unlike the Fucaceae, photosynthesis by these algae is not saturated with inorganic C in normal seawater. Taxonomic and ecological implications of these results are considered in relation to related data in the literature.     

A pump/leak/buffer model for plant nitrate uptake

A simple simulation model is described to account for the rates at which plants take up nitrate and reduce it to protein. It is based on the pump and leak principle, with the pump working at a constant rate per unit sap volume provided that there is an adequate concentration of nitrate at the root surface. The rate of leakage is assumed to be proportional to the concentration difference between the inside and the outside of the plant. Nitrogen is removed from the plant nitrate pool (the buffer) at a constant fraction of the photosynthesis rate. When applied to data for the diurnal variation in nitrate uptake by ryegrass, the model predicts an uptake pattern similar to that actually observed, with a time lag of about 5 hours between photosynthesis and uptake.