Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

The Nitrogen Cycle01:49

The Nitrogen Cycle

Nitrogen atoms, present in all proteins and DNA, are recycled between abiotic and biotic components of the ecosystem. However, the primary form of nitrogen on Earth is nitrogen gas, which cannot be used by most animals and plants. Thus, nitrogen gas must first be converted into a usable form by nitrogen-fixing bacteria before it can be cycled through other living organisms. The use of nitrogen-containing fertilizers and animal waste products in human agriculture has greatly influenced the...
Inorganic Nitrogen Assimilation01:22

Inorganic Nitrogen Assimilation

Nitrogen is an essential element in biological systems, forming a crucial component of proteins, nucleic acids, and other cellular constituents. Many bacteria and archaea acquire nitrogen in the form of nitrate (NO₃⁻) or ammonia (NH₃), which are then assimilated into biomolecules through specific enzymatic pathways.Assimilatory Nitrate ReductionWhen nitrate enters the cell, it undergoes a two-step reduction process known as assimilatory nitrate reduction. Initially, the enzyme nitrate reductase...
Overview of Nitrogen Metabolism01:20

Overview of Nitrogen Metabolism

Nitrogen is a very important element for life because it is a major constituent of proteins and nucleic acids. It is a macronutrient, and in nature, it is recycled from organic compounds and stored in the form of  ammonia, ammonium ions, nitrate, nitrite, or  nitrogen gas by many metabolic processes. Many of these metabolic processes are carried out only by prokaryotes.
The largest pool of nitrogen available in the terrestrial ecosystem is gaseous nitrogen (N2) from the air, but this nitrogen...
Microbes and the Nitrogen Cycle01:26

Microbes and the Nitrogen Cycle

The nitrogen cycle is a complex biogeochemical process critical to maintaining the balance of nitrogenous compounds in ecosystems. This cycle involves multiple microbial-mediated transformations through which nitrogen changes oxidation states, supporting essential ecological functions and contributing to plant and microbial growth.Nitrogen Fixation and AmmonificationNitrogen fixation initiates the cycle by converting inert atmospheric nitrogen (N₂) into bioavailable ammonia (NH₃), a process...
The Roles of Bacteria and Fungi in Plant Nutrition02:11

The Roles of Bacteria and Fungi in Plant Nutrition

Plants have the impressive ability to create their own food through photosynthesis. However, plants often require assistance from organisms in the soil to acquire the nutrients they need to function correctly. Both bacteria and fungi have evolved symbiotic relationships with plants that help the species to thrive in a wide variety of environments.
Trophic Efficiency00:46

Trophic Efficiency

Trophic level transfer efficiency (TLTE) is a measure of the total energy transfer from one trophic level to the next. Due to extensive energy loss as metabolic heat, an average of only 10% of the original energy obtained is passed on to the next level. This pattern of energy loss severely limits the possible number of trophic levels in a food chain.

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Compensation and colonization offset the impacts of biodiversity loss over time in grasslands.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026
Same author

Eco-evolutionary responses of species distributions to climate change.

Nature communications·2026
Same author

A perception-memory PDE framework for seasonal migration dynamics.

Journal of mathematical biology·2026
Same author

Elevation shapes alpine snow algal blooms and their influence on albedo reduction.

The New phytologist·2026
Same author

National phosphorus action to meet the United Nations call.

Nature food·2026
Same author

Opportunities to strengthen US phosphorus supply resilience through circular pathways.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 2, 2026

Linking Predation Risk, Herbivore Physiological Stress and Microbial Decomposition of Plant Litter
10:20

Linking Predation Risk, Herbivore Physiological Stress and Microbial Decomposition of Plant Litter

Published on: March 12, 2013

Nitrogen in insects: implications for trophic complexity and species diversification.

William F Fagan1, Evan Siemann, Charles Mitter

  • 1Department of Biology, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona 85287, USA.

The American Naturalist
|August 19, 2008
PubMed
Summary

Predators have 15% more nitrogen than herbivorous insects, with younger insect groups showing less nitrogen. These nutrient differences impact food webs and insect evolution.

More Related Videos

A Concoction Pipeline for Generating Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs) Among Riparian and Aquatic Beetles
10:23

A Concoction Pipeline for Generating Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs) Among Riparian and Aquatic Beetles

Published on: July 11, 2025

Identification of Metabolically Active Bacteria in the Gut of the Generalist Spodoptera littoralis via DNA Stable Isotope Probing Using 13C-Glucose
12:11

Identification of Metabolically Active Bacteria in the Gut of the Generalist Spodoptera littoralis via DNA Stable Isotope Probing Using 13C-Glucose

Published on: November 13, 2013

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 2, 2026

Linking Predation Risk, Herbivore Physiological Stress and Microbial Decomposition of Plant Litter
10:20

Linking Predation Risk, Herbivore Physiological Stress and Microbial Decomposition of Plant Litter

Published on: March 12, 2013

A Concoction Pipeline for Generating Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs) Among Riparian and Aquatic Beetles
10:23

A Concoction Pipeline for Generating Molecular Operational Taxonomic Units (MOTUs) Among Riparian and Aquatic Beetles

Published on: July 11, 2025

Identification of Metabolically Active Bacteria in the Gut of the Generalist Spodoptera littoralis via DNA Stable Isotope Probing Using 13C-Glucose
12:11

Identification of Metabolically Active Bacteria in the Gut of the Generalist Spodoptera littoralis via DNA Stable Isotope Probing Using 13C-Glucose

Published on: November 13, 2013

Area of Science:

  • Ecology
  • Evolutionary Biology
  • Zoology

Background:

  • Nutrient disparities between herbivores and plants affect ecosystems.
  • Previous research focused on plant-herbivore nutrient content.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate nutrient content differences between insect predators and herbivores.
  • Examine nitrogen content variation among insect herbivore lineages.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized a compiled database of insect nutrient content.
  • Analyzed nitrogen content in predators versus herbivores.
  • Accounted for phylogenetic and allometric variation.
  • Compared nitrogen levels across different herbivore lineages (Diptera, Lepidoptera, Orthoptera, Hemiptera).

Main Results:

  • Predators showed 15% higher nitrogen content than herbivores.
  • Recently derived herbivore lineages (Diptera, Lepidoptera) had 15%-25% less nitrogen than ancient lineages (Orthoptera, Hemiptera).
  • Differences persisted after controlling for phylogeny and allometry.

Conclusions:

  • Trophic-level nutrient differences are significant in insect food webs.
  • Phylogenetic history influences insect body nitrogen content.
  • Observed patterns have implications for food web dynamics and insect evolutionary radiation.