Quantifying optimal thermal environments for crickets, a promising protein source

大量的努力使我们能够确定许多供食用的动物的最佳饲养条件。越来越多的人饲养昆虫，将其作为一种有用的、可能更具生态可持续性的蛋白质来源供牲畜和人类食用。尽管世界上超过三分之一的人口每天都以昆虫为食，但关于为此目的而饲养的许多昆虫的理想饲养条件的研究却很少。与大多数肉食动物不同，昆虫是变温动物，这意味着它们的体温与环境温度相匹配，这对它们的移动、进食和繁殖能力有很大影响。**为了最大限度地提高昆虫养殖场产量，降低成本，并确保动物福利，我们正在研究温度如何影响蟋蟀在整个生命周期中的生长和生存。首先，我们将检查目前在农场生长的蟋蟀的热环境。通过在实验室中模拟这些条件，**我们将确定蟋蟀卵、幼虫和成虫的生存上限。最后，通过控制蟋蟀生长的热环境，我们将找到每个生命阶段的饲养条件**，最大限度地提高动物福利（存活到成年）和生长速度。本研究将极大地造福于**农场，因为它将使人们了解农场饲养蟋蟀的最佳饲养条件，并建立高密度饲养蟋蟀的**温度安全限值。

A great deal of effort has allowed us to determine the optimal rearing conditions of many animals that are**raised for food. Insects are increasingly being reared as a useful and potentially more ecologically sustainable**source of protein for livestock and human consumption. Although more than a third of the world's population**eats insects on a daily basis, there has been little research on the ideal rearing conditions of many insects raised**for this purpose. Unlike most animals raised for meat, insects are ectotherms, meaning their body temperature**matches the temperature of their environment, and strongly influences their ability to move, eat, and reproduce.**In order to maximize insect farm yields, reduce costs, and ensure animal welfare, we are studying how**temperature influences cricket growth and survival throughout their lifecycle. First, we will examine the**current thermal environment of crickets grown at the farm. By mimicking those conditions in the laboratory,**we will determine the upper critical limits of survival for cricket eggs, juveniles, and adults. Finally, by**manipulating the thermal environment crickets are raised in, we will find rearing conditions for each life stage**that maximize animal welfare (survival to adulthood) and growth rates. This research will greatly benefit the**farm, as it will result in knowledge on the optimal rearing conditions of farm raised crickets and establish**temperature safety limits for raising crickets in high density.