The interplay between habitat use, morphology and locomotion in subterranean crustaceans of the genus Niphargus

Locomotion is an important, fitness-related functional trait. Environment selects for type of locomotion and shapes the morphology of locomotion-related traits such as body size and appendages. In subterranean aquatic arthropods, these traits are subjected to multiple, at times opposing selection pressures. Darkness selects for enhanced mechano- and chemosensory systems and hence elongation of appendages. Conversely, water currents have been shown to favor short appendages. However, no study has addressed the variation in locomotion of invertebrates inhabiting cave streams and cave lakes, or questioned the relationship between species’ morphology and locomotion. To fill this knowledge gap, we studied the interplay between habitat use, morphology and locomotion in amphipods of the subterranean genus Niphargus. Previous studies showed that lake and stream species differ in morphology. Namely, lake species are large, stout and long-legged, whereas stream species are small, slender and shor...

运动能力（Locomotion）是一项重要的、与适合度（fitness）相关的功能性状。环境会对运动类型进行选择，并塑造体型、附肢等与运动相关性状的形态结构。在地下水生节肢动物中，这些性状承受着多重且有时相互对立的选择压力。黑暗环境会选择增强的机械感知与化学感知系统，进而促使附肢延长；相反，水流已被证实更有利于短附肢的形成。然而，目前尚无研究探讨栖息于洞穴溪流与洞穴湖泊的无脊椎动物运动能力差异，也未探究物种形态与运动能力之间的关系。为填补这一知识空白，我们研究了地下属Niphargus端足类动物在栖息地利用、形态结构与运动能力之间的相互作用。先前研究表明，湖泊物种与溪流物种形态存在差异：湖泊物种体型较大、身体粗壮且附肢较长，而溪流物种体型较小、身体纤细且附肢较...