Life in the Dark: On the Biology of the Cavernicolous Stonefly Protonemura gevi (Insecta, Plecoptera)

Protonemura gevi is a Palearctic stonefly with unique morphological adaptations for a cavernicolous life. In this study, the development, nymphal and adult feeding, adult behavior, and mate encounter mechanisms of this species are investigated. This species inhabits a stream flowing through a cave,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The American naturalist 2012-11, Vol.180 (5), p.684-691
Main Authors: López-Rodríguez, Manuel Jesús, Tierno de Figueroa, José Manuel
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acclimatization
Animal and plant ecology
Animal behavior
Animal, plant and microbial ecology
Animals
Behavior, Animal - physiology
Biological and medical sciences
Caves
Darkness
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
General aspects
Insecta
Insecta - physiology
Insects
Invertebrates
Life Cycle Stages
Life cycles
Nymph - physiology
Temperature
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Summary:Protonemura gevi is a Palearctic stonefly with unique morphological adaptations for a cavernicolous life. In this study, the development, nymphal and adult feeding, adult behavior, and mate encounter mechanisms of this species are investigated. This species inhabits a stream flowing through a cave, in darkness and at a constant temperature. Nymphs of different sizes cohabit throughout the whole year, showing a nonseasonal life cycle. Nymphs at the entrance of the cave feed mainly on coarse particulate organic matter and hyphae, and nymphs at the end of the cave feed principally on detritus and occasionally on animal matter. Adults were present year-round and aggregated on emergent stones at the end of the cave. No drumming signals were recorded; therefore, this species seems to rely mainly on aggregation to maximize pair encounters. As shown in this study, P. gevi have adaptations suited to life in the dark and the completion of its entire life cycle inside a cave.
ISSN:0003-0147
1537-5323
DOI:10.1086/667888