Fig. 2.

Development time and growth rate for each of the seven coexisting species on treatments with single diets (filled circles) and on the mixed diets (open circles). Development time was measured as the time from the beginning of the final stadium until molting to the adult stage; growth rate was measured as mass gain (in milligrams) in the final stadium divided by development time in the final stadium. In total, there were five single diets that differed in their protein:carbohydrate ratio. The labels on the x axis are the percentage dry mass of protein and carbohydrate, respectively, in each diet. Total macronutrient content for the five single-diet treatments was 42%. For each panel, a best-fit curve is plotted to the data. In the case of M. flavidus developmental time, the curve is only fit through four data points because inclusion of the p7:c35 diet gives an exaggerated optimal diet point. In most instances, development time and growth rate were best on the mixed-diet treatment.