Meeting Abstract

24.2  Friday, Jan. 4  Plant quality is more than just nutrients: host plant choice is determined by temperature and nutrients. CLISSOLD, F.J.*; SIMPSON, S.J.; The Univ. of Sydney, Australia; The Univ. of Sydney, Australia fiona.clissold@sydney.edu.au

Temperature and nutrition interact to affect the life histories of ectotherms. These interactions are generally believed to be mediated via metabolic rate, rather than by changes in the rates and ratios at which particular nutrients are digested, absorbed and utilized. We show that the rates and balance of protein and carbohydrate absorbed from particular host plants by a model herbivore, the locust, is temperature dependent. Furthermore, locusts were able to choose body temperatures and/or host plants so that protein and carbohydrate were differentially absorbed to redress experimentally imposed nutrient imbalances. Hence, ‘diet quality’ is temperature sensitive and insect herbivores can manipulate this relationship to their own ends. These findings suggest micro-climatic effects may be of more importance than previously appreciated for understanding the consequences changed environmental temperatures and microclimate on animal-plant interactions.