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Living Apart Together: On the Biology of two Sympatric Leuctra Species (Plecoptera, Leuctridae) in an Apenninic Stream, Italy
Author(s) -
LópezRodríguez Manuel Jesús,
Tierno de Figueroa José Manuel,
Bo Tiziano,
Mogni Alessandro,
Fenoglio Stefano
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
international review of hydrobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.524
H-Index - 52
eISSN - 1522-2632
pISSN - 1434-2944
DOI - 10.1002/iroh.201111413
Subject(s) - sympatry , detritus , sympatric speciation , nymph , instar , biology , ecology , river ecosystem , trophic level , zoology , larva , ecosystem
Leuctridae is the richest stonefly family on the European continent, with many species of Leuctra often coexisting in sympatry in the same lotic environment. In this work we studied the life cycle and feeding habits of two species, Leuctra fusca and L. hippopus , coexisting in a small Italian Apennine stream. The life cycles of the two species are non‐overlapping, i.e. , periods of nymphal growth and adult emergence are separated. Nymphs of both species feed mainly on detritus, but quantities of coarse particulate organic matter (CPOM) and diatoms are also ingested. Larger nymphs of both species ingest more CPOM and fewer diatoms. This suggests a similar trophic behaviour through their development. For example, they act as collector‐gatherers in their earlier instars and as collector‐gatherers or as shredders in their later instars (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)