title: Variation in C:N:S stoichiometry and nutrient storage related to body size in a holometabolous insect (Curculio davidi) (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) larva.
abstract: Body size can be an important factor controlling consumer stoichiometry. In holometabolous insects, body size is typically associated with nutrient storage. Consumer stoichiometry is known to vary within species across a range of body sizes; however, the contribution of nutrient storage to this variation is not well understood. We used the fifth-instar larvae of the oak weevil (Coleoptera: Curculio davidi Fairmaire), which is characterized by a high capacity for nutrient storage, to investigate the effect of shifts in nutrient storage with body mass on variations in larva stoichiometry. Our results showed that weevil larvae with larger body mass had a lower carbon (C) content, reflecting decreases in the sequestration rate of C-rich lipids. Larger larvae had elevated concentrations of nitrogen (N), sulfur (S), and protein. The similar patterns of variation in elemental composition and macromolecule storage with body weight indicate that the shift in nutrient storage is the main factor causing the variation in larval stoichiometry with body weight. This finding was further supported by the low variation in residual larval biomass C, N, and S concentrations after lipid extraction. These results help decipher the physiological mechanism of stoichiometric regulation in growing organisms.
authors.affiliation: School of Agriculture and Biology and Research Centre for Low-Carbon Agriculture, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Dongchuan Rd. 800, Shanghai 200240, China College of Agro-grassland Science, Nanjing Agricultural University, 1 Weigang Rd., Nanjing, 210095, China.
authors.forename: Xiao
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of St. Thomas, Saint Paul, MN 55105.
authors.forename: Gaston E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Small
authors.affiliation: School of Agriculture and Biology and Research Centre for Low-Carbon Agriculture, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Dongchuan Rd. 800, Shanghai 200240, China.
authors.forename: Xuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: College of Agro-grassland Science, Nanjing Agricultural University, 1 Weigang Rd., Nanjing, 210095, China.
authors.forename: Donger
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: School of Agriculture and Biology and Research Centre for Low-Carbon Agriculture, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Dongchuan Rd. 800, Shanghai 200240, China.
authors.forename: Hongwang
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: School of Agriculture and Biology and Research Centre for Low-Carbon Agriculture, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Dongchuan Rd. 800, Shanghai 200240, China Shanghai Urban Forest Ecosystem Research Station, State Forestry Administration, People's Republic of China, Dongchuan Rd. 800, Shanghai 200240, China chjliu@sjtu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Chunjiang
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D002244:Carbon / Q000378:metabolism*; D064666:Diapause, Insect; D019476:Insect Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D007814:Larva / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D013455:Sulfur / Q000378:metabolism*; D048889:Weevils / Q000254:growth & development / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D019476:Insect Proteins; D013455:Sulfur; D002244:Carbon; D009584:Nitrogen
keywords: Curculio larva; Quercus acorn; biological stoichiometry; body weight; nutrient storage
references.citation: J Insect Physiol. 2000 Jun 1;46(6):951-958
references.pmid: 10802107
references.citation: Proc Biol Sci. 2001 Jun 22;268(1473):1231-7
references.pmid: 11410148
references.citation: J Comp Physiol B. 2002 Feb;172(2):95-107
references.pmid: 11916114
references.citation: Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2002 Apr 2;99(7):4413-8
references.pmid: 11930002
references.citation: J Insect Physiol. 2002 Nov;48(11):1021-1029
references.pmid: 12770025
references.citation: J Insect Sci. 2001;1:2
references.pmid: 15455062
references.citation: J Insect Sci. 2003;3:26
references.pmid: 15841242
references.citation: Nat Rev Genet. 2006 Dec;7(12):907-16
references.pmid: 17139322
references.citation: Am Nat. 2002 Dec;160(6):784-802
references.pmid: 18707465
references.citation: Annu Rev Entomol. 2010;55:207-25
references.pmid: 19725772
references.citation: Annu Rev Entomol. 1991;36:205-28
references.pmid: 2006868
references.citation: J Insect Sci. 2008;8:1-7
references.pmid: 20298114
references.citation: J Insect Physiol. 2013 Apr;59(4):408-15
references.pmid: 23395823
references.citation: Oecologia. 2000 Mar;122(4):493-499
references.pmid: 28308341