title: Physiological strategies contributing to the coexistence of two predatory species of stoneflies: Dinocras cephalotes and Perla bipunctata.
abstract: Our study focuses on the oxidative state of two aquatic insects of the order Plecoptera belonging to the family Perlidae, namely Dinocras cephalotes (Curtis, 1827) and Perla bipunctata Pictet, 1833. These species are widely distributed throughout the Western Palearctic region and coexist in the stream where individuals for this study come from. We highlight the physiological strategies of these two different predator species of stoneflies, showing a higher accumulation of lipid reserves in P. bipunctata, higher glucose levels in the body tissues of D. cephalotes and a higher capacity of the antioxidant enzymes in P. bipunctata, what provides it a protection against oxidation of lipids, which are greater in this species. This leads to a similar oxidative state in both species. Based on these results is discussed how two close related species developing a very similar ecological role in the same habitat can achieve a similar fitness with differences in their physiological strategies.
authors: Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, Campus Fuentenueva, 18071 Granada, Spain. Electronic address: anasanz@ugr.es.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Sanz
authors: Departamento de Biología Celular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, Campus Fuentenueva, 18071 Granada, Spain. Electronic address: ctrenzad@ugr.es.
authors: C E
authors: CE
authors: Trenzado
authors: Departamento de Ecología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, Campus Fuentenueva s/n, 18071 Granada, Spain. Electronic address: manujlr@ugr.es.
authors: M J
authors: MJ
authors: López-Rodríguez
authors: Departamento de Zoología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Granada, Campus Fuentenueva, 18071 Granada, Spain. Electronic address: jmtdef@ugr.es.
authors: J M
authors: JM
authors: Tierno de Figueroa
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D007313:Insecta / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D050356:Lipid Metabolism; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D005947:Glucose
keywords: Antioxidant enzymes; Antioxidant protection; Dietary habits; Insect; Oxidative state; Stoneflies