Dynamic metabolic pattern of Aegla uruguayana (Schmitt, 1942) (Decapoda: Anomura: Aeglidae): responses to seasonality and ontogeny in a temperate freshwater environment

WILLINER, VERÓNICA; ROSSI, ANDREA; COLLINS, PABLO A; MUSIN, GABRIELA E; COLLINS, PABLO A; MUSIN, GABRIELA E; DIAWOL, VALERIA P; DIAWOL, VALERIA P; WILLINER, VERÓNICA; ROSSI, ANDREA

JOURNAL OF CRUSTACEAN BIOLOGY

CRUSTACEAN SOC

Año: 2017 vol. 37 p. 436 - 444

0278-0372

The trophic activity of freshwater decapod crustaceans varies throughout their ontogeneticprocess, molt cycle, and daily and annual rhythms. Among freshwater decapod crustaceans,Aegla uruguayana (Schmitt, 1942) is an omnivorous, generalist, and opportunistic species. Theaim of this study was to analyze the metabolic profile of this species in relation to seasonaland ontogenetic variations. Specimens of different size and sex of A. uruguayana were collectedin a stream in Entre Ríos province, Argentina during spring, summer, autumn, andwinter. Hemolymph samples were collected to determine the levels of glucose, triglycerides,cholesterol, and total proteins. Hepatopancreas and muscle tissue were extracted to quantifyglycogen, lipids, and proteins. Maximum concentrations of triglycerides and total proteins inhemolymph were those of spring and summer, respectively, being the size-season interactionsignificant in both cases. The interaction of the three factors (season, size, and sex) neverthelessshowed no significant differences in the set of measurements obtained for glucose andcholesterol. The metabolic parameters analyzed in hemolymph showed no seasonal variationsbetween males and females, except for summer measurements of glucose and cholesterol.The glycogen and lipid measurements in hepatopancreas were significantly affected by thesize-season interaction. Instead, proteins showed only seasonal variation. The data obtainedfor muscle showed that the size-season interaction did not significantly affect the metabolites.The variations observed in the metabolites reflect the use and requirements of nutrients bythe species, evidence that A. uruguayana is an opportunistic omnivorous species. These variationsalso reflect the dynamics of the communities and the environments where they live.