Beyond longevity: How do dietary restrictions affect lifetime reproduction?
Poster Number
5C
Faculty Mentor Name
Zachary Stahlschmidt
Format
Poster Presentation
Research or Creativity Area
Natural Sciences
Abstract
Caloric restriction (CR) improves longevity across a wide range of animals– from worms to humans. However, CR tends to reduce short-term reproductive output. Therefore, it remains unclear how CR affects overall fitness, which reflects lifetime reproductive success. Here, we examined how differences in nutrient availability affected survival and lifetime reproduction in the variable field cricket (Gryllus lineaticeps). Starting on the first day of adulthood, we offered females either unlimited access to a high-nutrient diet (25% cellulose), or one of two CR treatments: unlimited access to a low-nutrient diet (68% cellulose) or intermittent access to the high-nutrient diet. For 33 days, we monitored survival to estimate effects on lifespan, and we determined reproductive success by monitoring weekly egg production and hatching success. Our results will clarify how two different types of CR– nutrient dilution and intermittent fasting– affect lifetime reproduction as a proxy for fitness.
Location
University of the Pacific, DeRosa University Center
Start Date
24-4-2026 11:00 AM
End Date
24-4-2026 2:00 PM
Beyond longevity: How do dietary restrictions affect lifetime reproduction?
University of the Pacific, DeRosa University Center
Caloric restriction (CR) improves longevity across a wide range of animals– from worms to humans. However, CR tends to reduce short-term reproductive output. Therefore, it remains unclear how CR affects overall fitness, which reflects lifetime reproductive success. Here, we examined how differences in nutrient availability affected survival and lifetime reproduction in the variable field cricket (Gryllus lineaticeps). Starting on the first day of adulthood, we offered females either unlimited access to a high-nutrient diet (25% cellulose), or one of two CR treatments: unlimited access to a low-nutrient diet (68% cellulose) or intermittent access to the high-nutrient diet. For 33 days, we monitored survival to estimate effects on lifespan, and we determined reproductive success by monitoring weekly egg production and hatching success. Our results will clarify how two different types of CR– nutrient dilution and intermittent fasting– affect lifetime reproduction as a proxy for fitness.
