Feeding preference of the South American endemic anomuran Aegla platensis (Decapoda, Anomura, Aeglidae)

COLPO KARINE D.; RIBEIRO LIARA; WESZ BRUNA; RIBEIRO LUDMILLA

NATURWISSENSCHAFTEN

SPRINGER

Año: 2012 vol. 99 p. 333 - 336

0028-1042

In order to determine the feeding preference of Aegla platensis in streams and the importance of microorganisms in its detritivore diet, we carried out two experiments designed to evaluate the food preferences of A. platensis (1) among leaves with different levels of microbial colonization, and (2) among insect larvae (Chironomidae, Simuliidae, Hydropsychidae) and microbially conditioned leaves. Aegla platensis preferred animal over plant food items; when only leaves were offered, this aeglid preferred the leaves with higher levels of microorganism conditioning.