“Fearing the enemy”

One of the missions of BraIN & Phy Lab is to try to combine innovative approaches that link insect physiology to all fundamental and applied knowledge of insect science. This time, our efforts have expanded to understand the impacts of the presence of the predator Belostoma anurum (Hemiptera: Belostomatidae) on the development and oxidative physiology of a vertebrate, the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).

Fish can alter their physiological responses when threatened by the presence of predators, and this implies costs that can prevent the development and reproduction of the organism and reduce the ability to deal with other biotic and abiotic stresses. Thus, the authors evaluated the growth and stress biomarker responses in sexually reversed Nile tilapia when threatened by the presence of the predatory insect.

The work is the result of the MSc Master’s thesis Franciele M. Cruz in partnership with Brazilian and American researchers. Franciele was enchanted with the world of insects still in graduation, where subjects brought her more curiosity and desire to learn about these small animals. Only when she entered the Graduate Program in Entomology did she start working with aquatic insects and participated in the development of several projects with the group Belostomatidae.

This work allows for more studies on the predator-prey interactions in addition to many other invertebrates seen as quality bioindicators, models for assessing water contamination by xenobiotics and their role in the feeding chain. It also makes it possible to understand the life cycle and dietary requirements of laboratory-reared insects, which is essential for optimizing resources (including time) and can provide a more reliable ecological basis for the use of such control agents.

The work published in the Journal Physiology & Behavior, in October 2020, was attended by members of the Entomology Department of the Federal University of Viçosa (UFV), Ph.D Graziela D. A. Lima and professor Eugênio E. de Oliveira, members from the Department of Animal Biology, also from UFV, Msc. Cristiana Carneiro, Ph.D Jerusa Oliveira and professors Mariella Freitas and Ana Lúcia Salaro, and from the Department of Entomology at Michigan State University, Ph.D Wilson Valbon.

For Franciele, this partnership opens ways to improve our studies, which go far beyond what we imagine. “In addition to the friendship built, knowledge acquired, the greatest satisfaction was undoubtedly having the support of many people who helped us, even in small gestures”.

You can access the full article by clicking here.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

•