Structure of mandibles in relation to trophic niche differentiation in a tropical millipede community

Abstract

Isotopic composition of nitrogen in 19 species of Diplopoda from a tropical monsoon forest (Cat Tien National Park, southern Vietnam) which supports one of the most diverse millipede faunules globally (no less than 36 species from 17 families and 11 orders) forms a wide continuum of δ 15 N values ranging from -2.4 to +6.8‰. This suggests a trophic niche differentiation among species. Variation in mouthpart structure could presumably reflect the different foods consumed by species representing at least higher taxa (families and orders). The fine structure of the mandibles in ten sympatric, mostly even syntopic species of Diplopoda does differ considerably between the higher taxa, but neither at the generic nor species level. Neither clear-cut trends in nor evident morphological patterns of, nor significant correlations between the structure of mandibles in Diplopoda species that have different isotopic compositions of nitrogen and presumably exploit different food resources, have been revealed.

Conversion of rainforest to oil palm and rubber plantations alters energy channels in soil food webs

“…This is in line with previous studies reporting that Diplopoda typically function as primary decomposers by feeding on plant litter (Bonkow, Scheu, & Schaefer, Scheu & Schaefer, 1998;Cárcamo, Abe, Prescott, Holl, & Chanway, 2000). High 13 C and low 15 N enrichment indicates that litter-dwelling Diplopoda likely assimilate plant material colonized by saprotrophic fungi (Potapov, Semenina, Kurakov, & Tiunov, 2013;Potapov, Tiunov, & Scheu, 2018;Semenyuk, Tiunov, & Golovatch, 2011). High 13 C and low 15 N enrichment indicates that litter-dwelling Diplopoda likely assimilate plant material colonized by saprotrophic fungi (Potapov, Semenina, Kurakov, & Tiunov, 2013;Potapov, Tiunov, & Scheu, 2018;Semenyuk, Tiunov, & Golovatch, 2011).…”

“…Supporting this notion, Diplopoda readily feed on decomposing leaf litter of tropical trees in the laboratory (Ashwini & Sridhar, 2005). High 13 C and low 15 N enrichment indicates that litter-dwelling Diplopoda likely assimilate plant material colonized by saprotrophic fungi (Potapov, Semenina, Kurakov, & Tiunov, 2013;Potapov, Tiunov, & Scheu, 2018;Semenyuk, Tiunov, & Golovatch, 2011). Similarly, high concentrations of plant biomarkers in Diplopoda of temperate systems (Ambarish & Sridhar, 2015;Rawlins, Bull, Poirier, Ineson, & Evershed, 2006) as in the present study suggest that litter-dwelling Diplopoda occupy similar trophic niches in temperate and tropical ecosystems.…”

On the identities of Cryxus Leach, 1814 and Zephronia Gray, 1832, the oldest generic names in the millipede order Sphaerotheriida (Diplopoda)

“…Our paper focuses on neotype selections for and detailed descriptions of Cryxus ovalis (Linnaeus, 1758) and Zephronia ovalis Gray, 1832, based on material from the Cat Tien National Park, southern Vietnam. This nature reserve is known to support at least 36 species of Diplopoda, one of the richest millipede faunules globally [Semenyuk et al, 2011;. Among them, four species belong in Zephroniidae, the remaining two to be described elsewhere.…”

First steps toward suctorial feeding in millipedes: Comparative morphology of the head of the Platydesmida (Diplopoda: Colobognatha)

“…The armature of the mandibular gnathal lobe is partially reduced with modifications of the internal and external teeth, the pectinate lamellae, and the molar plate (Ishii & Tamura, 1995). In some species of the Platydesmida, the molar plate is absent (Semenyuk et al, 2011 for Pseudodesmus ; Wong et al, 2020 for B. lecontii ), and in B. lecontii the pectinate lamella is also absent (Wong et al, 2020). These modifications of the gnathal lobe suggest a shift toward softer and/or liquid food sources.…”