MEDI: Macronutrient Extraction and Determination from invertebrates, a rapid, cheap and streamlined protocol

A - Papers appearing in refereed journals

Cuff, J. P., Wilder, S. M., Maximillian, P .T. G., Hunt, R., Oluwaseun, S., Morley, P. S., Badell-Grau, R. A., Vaughan, I. P., Bell, J. R., Orozco-terWengel, P., Symondson, W. O. C. and Muller, C. T. 2021. MEDI: Macronutrient Extraction and Determination from invertebrates, a rapid, cheap and streamlined protocol. Methods in ecology and evolution. 12 (4), pp. 593-601. https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210X.13551

AuthorsCuff, J. P., Wilder, S. M., Maximillian, P .T. G., Hunt, R., Oluwaseun, S., Morley, P. S., Badell-Grau, R. A., Vaughan, I. P., Bell, J. R., Orozco-terWengel, P., Symondson, W. O. C. and Muller, C. T.
Abstract

Macronutrients, comprising carbohydrates, proteins and lipids, underpin many ecological processes, but their quantification in ecological studies is often inaccurate and laborious, requiring large investments of time and bulk samples, which make individual‐level studies impossible. This study presents Macronutrient Extraction and Determination from Invertebrates (MEDI), a protocol for the direct, rapid and relatively low‐cost determination of macronutrient content from single small macroinvertebrates.Macronutrients were extracted by a sequential process of soaking in 1:12 chloroform:methanol solution to remove lipid and then solubilising tissue in 0.1 M NaOH. Proteins, carbohydrates and lipids were determined by colorimetric assays from the same individual specimens. The limits of detection of MEDI with the equipment and conditions used were 0.067, 0.065 and 0.006 mg/ml for proteins, carbohydrates and lipids respectively. Adjusting the volume of reagents used for extraction and determination can broaden the range of concentrations that can be detected. MEDI successfully identified taxonomic differences in macronutrient content between five insect species. Macronutrient Extraction and Determination from Invertebrates can directly and rapidly determine macronutrient content in tiny (dry mass ~3 mg) and much larger individual invertebrates. Using MEDI, the total macronutrient content of over 50 macroinvertebrates can be determined within around 3 days of collection at a cost of ~$1.35 per sample.

KeywordsLipid; Protein; Exoskeleton; Colorimetric; Carbohydrate; Arthropod
Year of Publication2021
JournalMethods in ecology and evolution
Journal citation12 (4), pp. 593-601
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1111/2041-210X.13551
Web address (URL)https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/2041-210X.13551
Open accessPublished as ‘gold’ (paid) open access
FunderBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council
Funder project or codeThe Rothamsted Insect Survey - National Capability [2017-2023]
Publisher's version
Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online22 Jan 2021
Publication process dates
Accepted17 Jan 2021
PublisherBritish Ecological Society
ISSN2041-210X

Permalink - https://repository.rothamsted.ac.uk/item/98308/medi-macronutrient-extraction-and-determination-from-invertebrates-a-rapid-cheap-and-streamlined-protocol

113 total views
60 total downloads
1 views this month
0 downloads this month
Download files as zip