Nymphal feeding habits of Perla madritensis Rambur 1842 (Plecoptera: Perlidae) |
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| Authors: | Jacobo Rúa José Manuel Tierno de Figueroa Josefina Garrido |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Departamento de Ecología y Biología Animal, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Vigo, Campus Universitario Lagoas-Marcosende, 36310 Vigo, Spainjacrua@uvigo.es;3. Departamento de Zoología, Universidad de Granada, 18071, Granada, Spain;4. Departamento de Ecología y Biología Animal, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de Vigo, Campus Universitario Lagoas-Marcosende, 36310 Vigo, Spain |
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| Abstract: | The diet of Perla madritensis, endemic species of the northern half of the Iberian Peninsula, is described for the first time by means of a study carried out in north-western Spain. As other species of the genus Perla, this taxon behaves mainly as predator, with Chironomidae, followed by Baetidae, being the most abundant prey in its gut. Shifts in diet composition were detected in relation to size in this species, with smaller prey being replaced by larger ones such as Simuliidae and Leptophlebiidae when the nymphs become larger. |
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| Keywords: | stoneflies nymphal diet prey onthogenetic shifts secondary consumers Galicia Iberian Peninsula |
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