Aim We addressed the following questions: (1) Does tephritid body size tend to increase in species found at higher elevations, as predicted by Bergmann's rule? (2) Do tephritids conform to Rapoport's rule, so that species found at higher elevations tend to have broader altitudinal ranges? (3) More generally, how do body size and host range jointly affect the patterns of altitudinal distribution among Neotropical tephritid flies?Location The Mantiqueira mountain range, south-eastern Brazil, at sites ranging from c . 700 to 2500 m a.s.l.Methods At each site we collected flower heads of all Asteraceae species to rear out endophagous immatures (from January to June in 1998 and 1999). We used structural equation models (SEM) to evaluate jointly the relationships between body size, host range and altitudinal distribution (range and mid-point).Results Neotropical tephritid body size showed a negative relationship with altitudinal distribution. SE modelling showed no significant direct effect of body size on altitudinal range; however, it had significant indirect negative effects through host range and altitudinal mid-point. The SE model was a good predictor of observed correlations and accounted for 84% of the variation in tephritid altitudinal range. Main conclusionsThe altitudinal range of flower-head-feeding tephritids is related to host range and is indirectly affected by body size via host range and altitudinal mid-point. As predicted by Rapoport's rule, tephritids that occur at higher elevations also present wider altitudinal ranges. Bergmann's rule does not apply to Neotropical tephritids along a tropical elevational gradient, but rather its converse was found. Body size may determine host range by imposing a restriction upon large individuals using small flower heads. Host species turnover along the altitudinal gradient may be the main factor explaining the strong relationship between host range and insect elevational distribution.

Background: In inland water systems, it is important to characterize the trophic links in order to identify the 'trophic species' and, from the studies of functional diversity, understand the dynamics of matter and energy in these environments. The aim of this study is to analyze the natural diet of Trichodactylus kensleyi of subtropical rainforest streams and corroborate the temporal variation in the trophic activity during day hours. Results: A total of 15 major taxonomic groups were recognized in gut contents. The index of relative importance identified the following main prey items in decreasing order of importance: vegetal remains, oligochaetes, chironomid larvae, and algae. A significant difference was found in the amount of full stomachs during day hours showing a less trophic activity at midday and afternoon. The index of relative importance values evidenced the consumption of different prey according to day moments. Results of the gut content indicate that T. kensleyi is an omnivorous crab like other trichodactylid species. Opportunistic behavior is revealed by the ingestion of organisms abundant in streams such as oligochaetes and chironomid larvae. The consumption of allochthonous plant debris shows the importance of this crab as shredder in subtropical streams. However, the effective assimilation of plant matter is yet unknown in trichodactylid crabs. Conclusions: This research provides knowledge that complements previous studies about trophic relationships of trichodactylid crabs and supported the importance of T. kensleyi in the transference of energy and matter from benthic community and riparian sources to superior trophic levels using both macro-and microfauna.

The relative growth of a number of morphological dimensions of the South American freshwater crab Trichodactylus borellianus (Trichodactylidae) were compared and related to sexual dimorphism. Crabs were collected from ponds in the Middle Paraná River in Argentina. A regression model with segmented relationship was used to test for relative growth between these measurements where breakpoints infer the body size at which crabs reach sexual maturity. In both sexes the carapace width and the length, height, and thickness of the right and left chelae were measured, as well as the male pleopod length and the female abdomen width. All of these measurements were found to show positive allometry with the exception of the male pleopod length and the left chelae, which did not show a breakpoint. In females the breakpoint for the abdomen width inferred a morphological sexual maturity at carapace width 6.9 mm. In males the break point for the pleopod length was at carapace width 6.6 mm, with that for the chelae measurements was between carapace widths 6.4 and 6.9 mm. The relative growth pattern in Trichodactylus borellianus was found to be similar to that recorded for other species of the family Trichodactylidae.

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To test the hypothesis that the hydrological regime of large Rivers affects the structure of invertebrate communities and food webs in floodplain lakes, we studied invertebrate assemblages and stomach contents of fish and decapods in two shallow lakes in the Paraná River floodplain, Argentina, with different connectivity (indirect and permanent, IPC; direct and temporal, DTC) to the fluvial system over three hydroperiods (flooding, transition, drought). Invertebrate assemblages exhibited temporal variation, with higher dissimilarity during the drought phase. However, zooplanktonic and pleustonic attributes varied spatiotemporally, and were better explained by other environmental variables. The food webs in the two lakes differed, with higher connectance and fewer predators in the DTC Lake. In general, the use of trophic resources by fish and decapods reflected the local and abundant resources in the system. The persistence of communities in floodplain lakes with temporary connectivity to the river may relate to the foraging decisions of consumers to buffer environmental fluctuations. The consumption of abundant resources highlighted the importance of autochthonous inputs into floodplain lakes. However, the variation in food supply as a key factor governing food-web structure and stability should be further investigated.

One way to attain more sustainable aquaculture systems is through the species diversification and optimization of the feed input, such as obtained by integrated multi‐trophic aquaculture (IMTA). Macrobrachium borellii is a native freshwater prawn that reunites many useful features to be implemented in an IMTA. The aim of this study was to gather information about to which extent M. borellii can survive, grow and maintain body composition against feed limitation. The C:N ratios of feedstuffs were variable in order to simulate a hypothetical scenario of an integrated culture with fish of different trophic habits. The nutritional aspects (amino acid profile and proximal composition) of feeds and prawns were also analysed. Macrobrachium borellii could grow, survive and maintain the proximal content and C:N ratio of its muscle tissue with all feedstuffs but exhibited higher biomass gain and specific growth rate consuming feeds with lower C:N ratios. In this view, the integration of this prawn with omnivore or carnivore fish species should be recommended. The amino acid profile exhibited little variation before and after the experimental period, and was rich in lysine, leucine and arginine. In this study, it was also discussed the nutritional aspects of M. borelliii as a valuable by‐product to human and animal nutrition.

Freshwater crabs are rarely represented in food webs and their role in these ecosystems has been largely ignored. Trichodactylus borellianus is an omnivorous crab species that has a diverse natural trophic spectrum. This paper evaluates, in a laboratory assay, the ability of three ages of this crab to prey on three different organisms. The prey selectivity and relative importance of each prey item was also analyzed. Prey items (cladocerans, oligochaetes, and golden mussels) consisted of organisms of different shapes and mobility, representing the natural diet of this crab. Crabs were sorted according to size (juvenile, sub-adult, and adult) and increasing amounts of one prey was offered to each crab after 24 hrs of starvation. In the selectivity trial, all prey types were offered in a fixed set. Crabs in all three age categories were able to prey on all organisms. Cladocerans and oligochaetes were consumed in greater quantities compared to golden mussels when offered separately. However, only the consumption of oligochaetes exhibited a positive correlation with the crabs' size. When cladocerans and oligochaetes were offered together, more oligochaetes were consumed, both as percentage of volume and occurrence. Age-specific changes in consumption could be related to differences in the stomach capacity of the crab, the digestion time of each prey, and the predator-prey encounter probability. The selection of the most elongated prey with the lowest mobility indicated that the balance of the gain and loss of energy made it an advantageous species to prey on, as it was susceptible to predation. Additionally, the mussel, which is an invasive species, although not positively selected by T. borellianus in the present study, represented a new trophic resource for this crab.

The gastric armature of decapod foregut is a feeding structure that sparks controversial debates about the role dietary and historical components have in shaping its morphological traits. Having previous information about the natural diet is an interesting way to gather evidence on this issue. For the present study, we analyzed the morphological traits of gastric ossicles involved directly in the maceration of food in nine species of freshwater crabs of the family Trichodactylidae (Brachyura: Decapoda) representing five genera, three tribes and two subfamilies. The analyzed gastric ossicles were quite consistent among closely related species, suggesting that the observed traits had a clear phylogenetic component. However, it was also noted that the morphological traits of the gastric teeth of trichodactylid crabs match well with the natural diet and presented likeness with general features of other species with a similar trophic habit. We discuss the influence of phylogeny and function on the design of morphological traits and propose to quantify the role of phylogeny and function in shaping morphological traits through the analysis of phylogenetic signals.