Nutrient-microbe tradeoffs: how environmentally acquired symbionts influence insect growth

Grade:

12

Teacher:

Jenna Allardice

Caballeronia is a nutritional bacteria that is vital for the development of Leptoglossus zonatus (leaffooted bug). Without Caballeronia, leaffooted bugs cannot mature into adulthood to reproduce. I researched how different Caballeronia strains affect development & reproductive benefit, in addition to determining the benefit of another bacteria Lariskella. To determine the answer, I raised six sets of leaf-footed bugs with different strains of Caballeronia bacteria and with or without Lariskella. After I raised the bugs to adulthood, their weights and the time it took to reach adulthood were collected. It was found that Caballeronia strains LZ01, LZ24, and LZ28 allowed for the leaffooted bug to weigh more and grow into adulthood in less time. While the suboptimal strands -Lep1p3 and +Lep1p3 performed poorly regardless of Lariskella status. Studying the costs and benefits of host-microbe dynamics is important because these interactions happen to all animals, including humans. Looking at connections on smaller scales gives a better understanding of the whole picture.

Project presentation