Effect of different diets in the biochemical composition, lipid peroxidation and reproductive traits of Hyalella pleoacuta and Hyalella curvispina

Abstract

We compared the effect of different diets biochemical composition, levels of lipid peroxidation, survival rate, and reproductive aspects of Hyalella pleoacuta and H. curvispina. These crustaceans live in limnetic environments of the plateau and coastal plain, respectively, in southern Brazil. In the laboratory, the animals were kept in aquariums under controlled conditions and fed ad libitum, for 30 days with different diets. Macrophyte only (MO) mimicked a caloric restriction in both species and sexes, because they showed depletion of glycogen and proteins, this fact was reinforced by the decrease in the levels of lipoperoxidation. These responses were probably a result of the low caloric input. In the animals that received macrophyte plus commercial food (MCF) these responses were reversed when the energy reserves were maintained and the levels of lipoperoxidation were higher than those of animal that received MO. Animals fed on MCF showed more activity, higher numbers of couples, ovigerous females and eggs for females, however, the rate of survival was similar in both diets. The caloric requirements of both species were probable supplied with MCF, which provided more carbohydrates, proteins and lipids, and this diet provided valuable information concerning adequate maintenance of the animals for toxicology experiments, and principally increases the knowledge about the physiology of this genus.