Estimation of experimental cohabitation between Holarctic and Baikal Endemic Amphipods Species: G. lacustris against G. fasciatus

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to estimate the cohabitation effect of two invasive amphipods species (Gammarus lacustris and Gmelinoides fasciatus) by the cellular stress markers such as activity of antioxidant enzymes (peroxidase, catalase, glutathione S-transferase) and content of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70). Changes of antioxidant enzymes activity were shown in both amphipods species. It was observed that in G. lacustris cohabitation with other species led to the activation of all studied enzymes, whereas in G. fasciatus only peroxidase activity alteration was recorded. Notably, the activation of all studied enzymes was short-term. There were no changes of HSP70 content for both species. According to obtained data less sensitivity of G. fasciatus stress markers can be one of the key advantages for further successful distribution and adaptation to the new conditions.

Keywords

• amphipods
• Baikal
• invasions
• biotic interactions
• Gammarus lacustris
• Gmelinoides fasciatus