Prey Size and Feeding Patterns in Dinocras cephalotes (Plecoptera)

Malmqvist, Björn; Sjöström, Per

doi:10.2307/3544645

Cited by 55 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 16 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Aquatic perlid nymphs such as D . cephalotes are among the largest European freshwater carnivorous invertebrates, feeding primarily at night (Malmqvist and Sjöström 1980). Nymphs pass through 15–21 instars, and growth is slower for males than females, resulting in pronounced sexual dimorphism (Frutiger 1987).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anaerobic Metabolism at Thermal Extremes: A Metabolomic Test of the Oxygen Limitation Hypothesis in an Aquatic Insect

Verberk

Sommer

Rob

et al. 2013

Integrative and Comparative Biology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Thermal limits in ectotherms may arise through a mismatch between supply and demand of oxygen. At higher temperatures, the ability of their cardiac and ventilatory activities to supply oxygen becomes insufficient to meet their elevated oxygen demand. Consequently, higher levels of oxygen in the environment are predicted to enhance tolerance of heat, whereas reductions in oxygen are expected to reduce thermal limits. Here, we extend previous research on thermal limits and oxygen limitation in aquatic insect larvae and directly test the hypothesis of increased anaerobic metabolism and lower energy status at thermal extremes. We quantified metabolite profiles in stonefly nymphs under varying temperatures and oxygen levels. Under normoxia, the concept of oxygen limitation applies to the insects studied. Shifts in the metabolome of heat-stressed stonefly nymphs clearly indicate the onset of anaerobic metabolism (e.g., accumulation of lactate, acetate, and alanine), a perturbation of the tricarboxylic acid cycle (e.g., accumulation of succinate and malate), and a decrease in energy status (e.g., ATP), with corresponding decreases in their ability to survive heat stress. These shifts were more pronounced under hypoxic conditions, and negated by hyperoxia, which also improved heat tolerance. Perturbations of metabolic pathways in response to either heat stress or hypoxia were found to be somewhat similar but not identical. Under hypoxia, energy status was greatly compromised at thermal extremes, but energy shortage and anaerobic metabolism could not be conclusively identified as the sole cause underlying thermal limits under hyperoxia. Metabolomics proved useful for suggesting a range of possible mechanisms to explore in future investigations, such as the involvement of leaking membranes or free radicals. In doing so, metabolomics provided a more complete picture of changes in metabolism under hypoxia and heat stress.

show abstract

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anaerobic Metabolism at Thermal Extremes: A Metabolomic Test of the Oxygen Limitation Hypothesis in an Aquatic Insect

Verberk

Sommer

Rob

et al. 2013

Integrative and Comparative Biology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In her excellent review of predator–prey interactions in aquatic insects, Peckarsky (1984) summarised the three basic types of functional response models and tabulated studies in which these models have been used. There was only one study on Plecoptera, by Malmqvist & Sjöström (1980), but unfortunately these authors did not fit a functional model to their data.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A comparative study of the functional response of four species of carnivorous stoneflies

Elliott

2003

Freshwater Biology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

SUMMARY 1. Comparisons were made of the functional responses of mature larvae of Perlodes microcephalus, Isoperla grammatica, Dinocras cephalotes and Perla bipunctata. Experiments were performed in stream tanks with natural substrata and glass bottoms, so that feeding could be observed above and below the substratum. There was one stonefly per tank and one of 10 prey densities between 20 and 200 larvae of either Chironomus sp. or Baetis rhodani per tank. Consumed prey were replaced in a first set of experiments but not in a second set. Additional experiments assessed intraspecific interference between larvae of each predator species (two to five predators per tank). 2. The number of prey eaten increased curvilinearly with prey density. The relationship was described by two models, a Type II instantaneous model and its integrated equivalent, for experiments with and without prey replacement, respectively. Handling time did not change significantly with prey density, and was the same for experiments with and without prey replacement. Estimates of attack rate were similar for the two models, but varied between prey type and predator species. Handling time varied considerably but was normally distributed for each prey type and predator species. Mean handling time varied for Chironomus from 39 s for Isoperla, which rarely ate a whole larva, to 57 s for Perlodes and for Baetis from 116 s for Perlodes to 167 s for Perla. All predators were more efficient at capturing Baetis, but the longer handling time for Baetis ensured that more Chironomus were eaten. It was concluded that these variations in attack rate and handling time were related to activity and growth differences between the predator species, and that experiments with and without prey replacement could both be relevant to the field, depending on how the predators searched for food. 3. In the interference experiments, mean handling time did not change with increasing predator density, but attack rate decreased curvilinearly, the decrease varying from negligible for Isoperla to marked for Perlodes. Prey capture decreased with decreasing attack rate. Therefore, interference reduced prey consumption, but this effect was negligible for Isoperla and increasingly severe in the order Dinocras, Perla and Perlodes.

show abstract

“…Carnivorous larvae of Plecoptera are usually considered to be chie¯y nocturnal feeders (Hynes, 1941;Brinck, 1949;Vaught & Stewart, 1974). In marked contrast, better-designed experiments on carnivorous larvae of Dinocras cephalotes by different workers have shown that they were most active in the dark (Mu Èller & Benedetto, 1970), did not take prey during daylight hours (Malmqvist & Sjo Èstro Èm, 1980), and acted as an ambusher during twilight and a searcher in darkness (Sjo Èstro Èm, 1985a,b). Vaught & Stewart, 1974;Winterbourn, 1974;Johnson, 1981;Allan, 1982), however there are a few direct observations in the laboratory.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contrasting diel activity and feeding patterns of four species of carnivorous stoneflies

Elliott

2000

Ecological Entomology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

1. The hypothesis under test was that larvae of Dinocras cephalotes (Curtis), Perla bipunctata Pictet, Isoperla grammatica (Poda), and Perlodes microcephalus (Pictet) differed markedly in their diel activity and feeding patterns.Mature larvae collected about 1 month prior to adult emergence were used either for gut analyses or for observations of their activity and feeding patterns in three stream tanks with natural substrata and glass bottoms, so that activity could be observed above and below the substratum. A dull red light was used for observations in the dark. Food (larvae of Ephemeroptera, Simuliidae, and Chironomidae) was provided in excess.2. Larvae for gut analyses were taken 1 h before dusk or dawn (n = 30 larvae per species for each day or night sample). The only species with food in the gut for the day samples was P. microcephalus. All species fed at night, the mean number of prey per larva being very similar for D. cephalotes, P. bipunctata, and I. grammatica but signi®cantly higher for P. microcephalus. Most prey were insect larvae, especially Simuliidae and Chironomidae.3. Diel activity patterns of single larvae differed interspeci®cally but not intraspeci®cally. Larvae of D. cephalotes and P. bipunctata were rarely active during the day; their activity increased at dusk and decreased at dawn, and was highest during the night; their success at prey capture was highest at dusk and dawn, with an ambush rather than a search strategy. Isoperla grammatica was rarely active during the day, most active at dusk and dawn when prey capture was highest, using a search strategy, and less active for the rest of the night. Perlodes microcephalus was active during the day, but only below the substratum, and very active from dusk to dawn with a high prey-capture success, using a search strategy. These experiments provided support for the hypothesis under test. The discussion concludes that the results could also help to explain known differences in growth rate and the length of the life-cycle in these four species.

show abstract

Prey Size and Feeding Patterns in Dinocras cephalotes (Plecoptera)

Cited by 55 publications

References 16 publications

Anaerobic Metabolism at Thermal Extremes: A Metabolomic Test of the Oxygen Limitation Hypothesis in an Aquatic Insect

Anaerobic Metabolism at Thermal Extremes: A Metabolomic Test of the Oxygen Limitation Hypothesis in an Aquatic Insect

A comparative study of the functional response of four species of carnivorous stoneflies

Contrasting diel activity and feeding patterns of four species of carnivorous stoneflies

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About