Calcium Accumulation and Loss and Vitamin D<sub>3</sub> Content of Feeder Black Field Crickets (<i>Gryllus bimaculatus</i>) Fed on a High Calcium Diet with and without UVB Irradiation
Calcium metabolism in insectivores may be perturbed by insufficient calcium or vitamin D<sub>3</sub>. Insects may be gut loaded to increase calcium content, and recent research shows that exposure to UVB radiation can increase the vitamin D<sub>3</sub> content of some inverte...
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MDPI AG
2021-07-01
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| Series: | Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-5636/2/3/27 |
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| author | India Bah-Nelson Jade Newton-Youens Amanda Ferguson Christopher John Michaels |
| author_facet | India Bah-Nelson Jade Newton-Youens Amanda Ferguson Christopher John Michaels |
| author_sort | India Bah-Nelson |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Calcium metabolism in insectivores may be perturbed by insufficient calcium or vitamin D<sub>3</sub>. Insects may be gut loaded to increase calcium content, and recent research shows that exposure to UVB radiation can increase the vitamin D<sub>3</sub> content of some invertebrates. Typical gut loading protocols result in peak calcium content after 24–48 h, while existing evidence with UVB irradiation involves exposure periods of tens of days. We UVB-irradiated fasted black field crickets (<i>Gryllus bimaculatus</i>) while feeding them on high calcium diets for 48 h, then fasted them for a further 24 h, and measured the vitamin D<sub>3</sub>, calcium, and phosphorus content compared with non-irradiated controls. UVB irradiation had no effect on vitamin D<sub>3</sub> (crickets had no detectable levels of vitamin D<sub>3</sub> at any point), or on calcium accumulation rates, which approximated existing research. Crickets significantly increased their calcium:phosphorus ratio from 0.17 to approximately 0.4 over 24 h and this did not increase over a further 24 h of feeding. Removal of the food source resulted in loss of all accumulated calcium within 24 h. Our results have implications for managing food sources for captive insectivores and highlight the importance of good feeder preparation and rapid consumption to ensure optimal calcium delivery to predators. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:31:26Z |
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| id | doaj.art-f2c8b481929a46a4b91250dd28f9d4ae |
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| issn | 2673-5636 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:31:26Z |
| publishDate | 2021-07-01 |
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| spelling | doaj.art-f2c8b481929a46a4b91250dd28f9d4ae2023-11-22T13:52:21ZengMDPI AGJournal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens2673-56362021-07-012338238710.3390/jzbg2030027Calcium Accumulation and Loss and Vitamin D<sub>3</sub> Content of Feeder Black Field Crickets (<i>Gryllus bimaculatus</i>) Fed on a High Calcium Diet with and without UVB IrradiationIndia Bah-Nelson0Jade Newton-Youens1Amanda Ferguson2Christopher John Michaels3Royal Veterinary College, University of London, London NW1 0TU, UKDepartment of Natural Science, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester M15 6BH, UKZoological Society of London, London NW1 4RY, UKZoological Society of London, London NW1 4RY, UKCalcium metabolism in insectivores may be perturbed by insufficient calcium or vitamin D<sub>3</sub>. Insects may be gut loaded to increase calcium content, and recent research shows that exposure to UVB radiation can increase the vitamin D<sub>3</sub> content of some invertebrates. Typical gut loading protocols result in peak calcium content after 24–48 h, while existing evidence with UVB irradiation involves exposure periods of tens of days. We UVB-irradiated fasted black field crickets (<i>Gryllus bimaculatus</i>) while feeding them on high calcium diets for 48 h, then fasted them for a further 24 h, and measured the vitamin D<sub>3</sub>, calcium, and phosphorus content compared with non-irradiated controls. UVB irradiation had no effect on vitamin D<sub>3</sub> (crickets had no detectable levels of vitamin D<sub>3</sub> at any point), or on calcium accumulation rates, which approximated existing research. Crickets significantly increased their calcium:phosphorus ratio from 0.17 to approximately 0.4 over 24 h and this did not increase over a further 24 h of feeding. Removal of the food source resulted in loss of all accumulated calcium within 24 h. Our results have implications for managing food sources for captive insectivores and highlight the importance of good feeder preparation and rapid consumption to ensure optimal calcium delivery to predators.https://www.mdpi.com/2673-5636/2/3/27calciummetabolic bone diseasecaptive insectivoresvitamin D3livefoodgut loading |
| spellingShingle | India Bah-Nelson Jade Newton-Youens Amanda Ferguson Christopher John Michaels Calcium Accumulation and Loss and Vitamin D<sub>3</sub> Content of Feeder Black Field Crickets (<i>Gryllus bimaculatus</i>) Fed on a High Calcium Diet with and without UVB Irradiation Journal of Zoological and Botanical Gardens calcium metabolic bone disease captive insectivores vitamin D3 livefood gut loading |
| title | Calcium Accumulation and Loss and Vitamin D<sub>3</sub> Content of Feeder Black Field Crickets (<i>Gryllus bimaculatus</i>) Fed on a High Calcium Diet with and without UVB Irradiation |
| title_full | Calcium Accumulation and Loss and Vitamin D<sub>3</sub> Content of Feeder Black Field Crickets (<i>Gryllus bimaculatus</i>) Fed on a High Calcium Diet with and without UVB Irradiation |
| title_fullStr | Calcium Accumulation and Loss and Vitamin D<sub>3</sub> Content of Feeder Black Field Crickets (<i>Gryllus bimaculatus</i>) Fed on a High Calcium Diet with and without UVB Irradiation |
| title_full_unstemmed | Calcium Accumulation and Loss and Vitamin D<sub>3</sub> Content of Feeder Black Field Crickets (<i>Gryllus bimaculatus</i>) Fed on a High Calcium Diet with and without UVB Irradiation |
| title_short | Calcium Accumulation and Loss and Vitamin D<sub>3</sub> Content of Feeder Black Field Crickets (<i>Gryllus bimaculatus</i>) Fed on a High Calcium Diet with and without UVB Irradiation |
| title_sort | calcium accumulation and loss and vitamin d sub 3 sub content of feeder black field crickets i gryllus bimaculatus i fed on a high calcium diet with and without uvb irradiation |
| topic | calcium metabolic bone disease captive insectivores vitamin D3 livefood gut loading |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2673-5636/2/3/27 |
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