A1 Journal article (refereed)
Diet influences resource allocation in chemical defence but not melanin synthesis in an aposematic moth (2024)

Ottocento, C., Rojas, B., Burdfield-Steel, E., Furlanetto, M., Nokelainen, O., Winters, S., & Mappes, J. (2024). Diet influences resource allocation in chemical defence but not melanin synthesis in an aposematic moth. Journal of Experimental Biology, 227(3), Article jeb245946. https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.245946

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Ottocento, Cristina; Rojas, Bibiana; Burdfield-Steel, Emily; Furlanetto, Miriam; Nokelainen, Ossi; Winters, Sandra; Mappes, Johanna

Journal or series: Journal of Experimental Biology

ISSN: 0022-0949

eISSN: 1477-9145

Publication year: 2024

Publication date: 05/01/2024

Volume: 227

Issue number: 3

Article number: jeb245946

Publisher: The Company of Biologists

Publication country: United Kingdom

Publication language: English

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1242/jeb.245946

Research data link: https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.zpc866tfz

Publication open access: Not open

Publication channel open access: 

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/93982

Abstract

For animals that synthesise their chemical compounds de novo, resources, particularly proteins, can influence investment in chemical defences and nitrogen-based wing colouration such as melanin. Competing for the same resources often leads to trade-offs in resource allocation. We manipulated protein availability in the larval diet of the wood tiger moth, Arctia plantaginis, to test how early life resource availability influences relevant life history traits, melanin production, and chemical defences. We expected higher dietary protein to result in more effective chemical defences in adult moths and a higher amount of melanin in the wings. According to the resource allocation hypothesis, we also expected individuals with less melanin to have more resources to allocate to chemical defences. We found that protein-deprived moths had a slower larval development, and their chemical defences were less unpalatable for bird predators, but the expression of melanin in their wings did not differ from that of moths raised on a high-protein diet. The amount of melanin in the wings, however, unexpectedly correlated positively with chemical defences. Our findings demonstrate that the resources available in early life have an important role in the efficacy of chemical defences, but melanin-based warning colours are less sensitive to resource variability than other fitness-related traits.

Keywords: defence mechanisms (biological phenomena); chemical compounds; warning coloration; melanins; nutrition; proteins; wood tiger

Free keywords: aposematism; chemical defences; life history; melanin; moth; resource allocation

Contributing organizations

Ministry reporting: Yes

VIRTA submission year: 2024

Preliminary JUFO rating: 2