4.6 Article

Does space matter? Estimation and evaluation of required space for commercial mass culture of grasshoppers (Acridoidea: Orthoptera)

Journal

PLOS ONE
Volume 17, Issue 6, Pages -

Publisher

PUBLIC LIBRARY SCIENCE
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0265664

Keywords

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Funding

  1. UGC-DAE Consortium for Scientific Research, Government of India [751/(CSIRUGC NET JUNE 2018)]

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The study shows that grasshoppers have a multidimensional mortality mode at different densities, with a sigmoidal correlation between density and mortality. Mortality is not necessarily correlated with the body mass of the insects, indicating density as a key factor. A utility chart provided based on the research results facilitates estimating the space required for captive grasshoppers.
A space-dependent mortality assay was performed on thirty-one short-horned adult grasshopper species (Acridoidea: Orthoptera) to estimate the space required for mass culture of acridids in captivity. Our findings show that acridids have a multidimensional mortality mode at different densities. The correlations between density and mortality of acridids in rearing units follow a sigmoidal curve. Acridid mortality significantly increases with individual numbers up to a threshold, after which mortality does not change even if the density increases further. A log-logistic sigmoidal function expresses the dose (density)-response (mortality) relationship in the majority of acridid species. Mortality of acridids at variable densities does not necessarily correspond with the body-mass of the insects, indicating that mortality is a body-mass independent event. As a ready reference, a utility chart has been prepared, providing the necessary conversion factor for estimating space for a given number of acridids. The present information will be helpful for commercial grasshopper farming in captivity.

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