Experimental studies of blowfly (Calliphora stygia) longevity: A little dietary fat is beneficial but too much is detrimental

摘要

This paper is one in a series of experimental studies on the effects of food composition on aging andlongevity, using the golden-haired blowfly Calliphora stygia as the animal model. Here we examine how dietfat content affects blowfly life history traits such as longevity, reproduction, feeding rate, body mass, total fatcontent and membrane fatty acid composition. The highest median and maximum longevity was observed inblowflies fed on low fat diets, while high-fat diets caused morerapid death of the blowflies. A major resultwas that blowflies feeding on the lowest fat diet had the highest maximal lifespan demonstrating that lowlevels of diet fat enhanced blowfly lifespan. Diet also influenced gender-specific mortality rates; females livedlonger on a high-fat diet, while males lived longer on a low fat diet. Furthermore, we provide data for andexplain how blowfly feeding rates, egg production and male harassment affected blowfly longevity. Ourresults highlight the need for further studies to understand how dietary fats are metabolised and utilised inthe golden-haired blowfly.