Enzyme activity and trophic links of macroarthropods living on an exposed Mediterranean beach–dune system

Year: 2016

Authors: Lagar MC., Pazzagli L., Cappugi G., Giusfredi G., Colombini I., Fallaci M., Chelazzi L., Scapini F.

Autors Affiliation: Univ Florence, Dipartimento Biol, Via Romana 17, I-50125 Florence, Italy; Univ Florence, Dipartimento Sci Biochim Sperimentali & Clin Mari, Florence, Italy; CNR, Ist Nazl Ott, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; European Lab Nonlinear Spect, Sesto Fiorentino, Italy; CNR, Ist Studio Ecosistemi, Florence, Italy.

Abstract: Arthropod communities of beach-dune systems are mainly composed by detritivorous species, apparently with overlapping trophic niches. This study aims at distinguishing the trophic roles of sympatric species, by using a biochemical approach in the analysis of gut contents. The digestion of seven trisaccharidic and disaccharidic substrates containing the glycosidic bond was tested in gut homogenates of 10 species of detritivorous insects and crustaceans from a Mediterranean beach-dune system (Tuscany, Italy). Glycosidase activities were compared between species. A dendrogram was determined separating species with different enzymatic activity spectra. The differences observed in the enzymatic activities may be related to a different use of the available food resources and interpreted as an opportunist nutrition of arthropod species sharing the same habitat.

Journal/Review: ITALIAN JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY

Volume: 83 (2)      Pages from: 221  to: 232

KeyWords: Enzyme activity; trophic structure; crustaceans; coleopterans; beach–dune system
DOI: 10.1080/11250003.2016.1184331

Citations: 4
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