Nutrient Allocation: Reproductive Investment vs. Wound Healing in Uta Stansburiana

Class

Article

Graduation Year

2017

College

College of Agriculture and Applied Sciences

Department

Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Sciences Department

Faculty Mentor

Dr. Susannah French

Presentation Type

Poster Presentation

Abstract

When an organism is forced to choose between repairing itself and investing in offspring, which will take precedence? Animals allocate limited resources to perform physiological processes, including immune response and reproduction. When resources are limited, some processes are neglected and others are favored. The conflicting needs of immune response vs. reproduction are of particular interest. Previous studies suggest that in some cases immune response, as measured by wound healing, takes precedence over reproduction (French, Johnston, and Moore 2007). However, other studies on lizards suggest that this prioritization is flexible (French and Moore 2008). These findings suggest that females in reproductive states give priority to reproduction under certain circumstances.

Researchers traditionally measure follicle or scab size to estimate reproductive investment and wound healing, respectively. A more precise method of measurement to track resource allocation would be highly beneficial. Stable isotopes could be used to follow the “fates” of ingested nutrients and to investigate types of resources used (McCue 2011). This technique has been used to measure nutrient use in various animals. Stable isotopes were used in this study to compare investment in immunity vs. reproduction in Uta Stansburiana. After force-feeding animals with stable isotopes, tissues were analyzed to measure the ratio of isotopes in potentially competing tissues. The relative abundance of force-fed isotope in newly synthesized tissue would indicate recent tissue growth. By comparing isotope content of tissues involved in integrative immune response (i.e. scab tissue) to isotope content of tissues geared toward reproductive output (i.e. egg tissue), it is possible to quantify resource allocation of an organism under stress using a single unit of measure. Refining this technique would be highly beneficial to scientists interested in stress response, as isotopic levels would yield a very precise measure of resource allocation. The data from this study is currently under analysis.

Location

South Atrium

Start Date

4-13-2017 1:30 PM

End Date

4-13-2017 2:45 PM

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Apr 13th, 1:30 PM Apr 13th, 2:45 PM

Nutrient Allocation: Reproductive Investment vs. Wound Healing in Uta Stansburiana

South Atrium

When an organism is forced to choose between repairing itself and investing in offspring, which will take precedence? Animals allocate limited resources to perform physiological processes, including immune response and reproduction. When resources are limited, some processes are neglected and others are favored. The conflicting needs of immune response vs. reproduction are of particular interest. Previous studies suggest that in some cases immune response, as measured by wound healing, takes precedence over reproduction (French, Johnston, and Moore 2007). However, other studies on lizards suggest that this prioritization is flexible (French and Moore 2008). These findings suggest that females in reproductive states give priority to reproduction under certain circumstances.

Researchers traditionally measure follicle or scab size to estimate reproductive investment and wound healing, respectively. A more precise method of measurement to track resource allocation would be highly beneficial. Stable isotopes could be used to follow the “fates” of ingested nutrients and to investigate types of resources used (McCue 2011). This technique has been used to measure nutrient use in various animals. Stable isotopes were used in this study to compare investment in immunity vs. reproduction in Uta Stansburiana. After force-feeding animals with stable isotopes, tissues were analyzed to measure the ratio of isotopes in potentially competing tissues. The relative abundance of force-fed isotope in newly synthesized tissue would indicate recent tissue growth. By comparing isotope content of tissues involved in integrative immune response (i.e. scab tissue) to isotope content of tissues geared toward reproductive output (i.e. egg tissue), it is possible to quantify resource allocation of an organism under stress using a single unit of measure. Refining this technique would be highly beneficial to scientists interested in stress response, as isotopic levels would yield a very precise measure of resource allocation. The data from this study is currently under analysis.