1st Place: Nutrient balancing and regulation in insects: A geometric framework comparison

The geometric framework provides a method to investigate nutritional regulation. Insects are capable of regulating the proportion of nutrients they consume based on their current nutritional requirements. The self-selected optimal ratio of nutrients (i.e., the intake target) were compared across a variety of insects species relative to their life history traits. A regression tree analysis and ANOVA were used to assess the impact of life history traits on intake target location. We found that phylogeny and life stage are significant factors in determining the nutritional ratio that insects regulate to. Insects clustered by taxonomic order varying in P:C ratios from heavily carbohydrate baised Blattodea and Diptera to protein leaning Lepidopera. Immature insects preferred a more protein leaning P:C relative to their adult counterparts.