Insufficient and excessive Ca2+ intake negatively impact the life history performance and disrupt the hemolymph metabolism of Spodoptera litura

• Published in: Ecotoxicology and environmental safety Vol. 284; p. 116921
• Main Authors: Wang, Zailing, Qi, Jingwei, Yang, Yang, Li, Chuanren
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Inc 01.10.2024; Elsevier
• Subjects: Calcium ions (Ca2+); Pathway analysis; Spodoptera litura; Two-sex life table; Untargeted metabolomics; Pathway analysis; Spodoptera litura; Calcium ions (Ca2+); Two-sex life table; Untargeted metabolomics
• ISSN: 0147-6513; 1090-2414; 1090-2414
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116921

Calcium ions (Ca2+), essential as second messengers in all cells, play a pivotal role as micronutrients in insects. However, few studies have explored the effects of both insufficient and excessive Ca2+ intake on life history performance and population parameters. This study examines the impact of varying Ca2+ intake levels—insufficient (0 mg/kg), appropriate (100 mg/kg), and excessive (250 mg/kg)—on the life history performance and population parameters of Spodoptera litura using two-sex life tables. Insufficient and excessive Ca2+ intakes significantly extended the preadult development period and decreased the preadult survival rates of S. litura, compared to those on an appropriate Ca2+ intake. The population parameters (Intrinsic rate of increase (r), Finite rate of increase (λ), and Net reproductive rate (R0)) of S. litura on a 100 mg/kg diet (r = 0.1364, λ = 1.1462, R0 = 390) were significantly higher than those on a 0 mg/kg diet (r = 0.1091, λ = 1.1153, R0 = 130.52). Additionally, untargeted metabolomics analysis revealed that inappropriate Ca2+ levels (either insufficient or excessive) triggered significant up-regulation of 71.1 % and 92.8 % of the metabolites in the hemolymph, respectively, compared to the appropriate Ca2+ intake. Notably, disruptions in metabolite balance affected critical components such as melatonin and melanin within the tryptophan and tyrosine metabolism pathways. These findings underscore that both insufficient and excessive Ca2+ intakes adversely affect the life history performance and disrupt hemolymph metabolic balance in S. litura. •Appropriate Ca2+ intake is beneficial for the development of insect populations.•Both insufficient and excessive Ca2+ intake adversely affect population performance and disrupt hemolymph metabolic balance.•Tryptophan and tyrosine metabolic disorders play a key role in affecting insect performances.