DYNAMICS OF DECAPOD CRUSTACEANS IN A TROPHIC WEB OF CONTINENTAL AQUATIC ENVIRONMENTS IN SOUTHERN SOUTH AMERICA

COLLINS PABLO AGUSTIN; CARNEVALI, ROMINA; CARVALHO, DEBORA ; WILLINER VERONICA

Advances in Environmental Research

Nova Publishers

Año: 2012; p. 165 - 194

The aquatic fauna is related through the strongest interaction that exists in the systems, directing the matter cycle and energy flux to different communities that characterize the freshwater environments. The feeding activities vary with the different rhythms that govern the ecosystems, provoking qualitative and quantitative changes in the food chains. The crustacean decapods by its densities and nutritional quality are a important and interest group to interpret the trophic webs as intermediaries? elements in this.  The dynamic of decapods in the web has been regulated by the rhythms of exogenous factors such as abiotics (e.g. flood pulse, temperature, seasonality, light hours, conductivity, pH) and biotics (presence of depredators, competence, trophic offers). Moreover, the activities are coupled to endogenous rhythms of each species (e.g. molt, growth, reproduction, nutrition requirement). All these rhythms, that influence the trophic relations, corresponds an evolutive interaction during many years between environments and species.