Allometric Versus Isometric Growth in European Stoneflies (Plecoptera)

ABSTRACT

We studied abdominal growth of nine species representing the seven European Plecoptera families. Our data indicate that a linear or a power model best describes the relationship between abdomen length and total length, showing an obvious isometric growth for all the nine species. It was previously supposed that large-sized Perloidea may present an abdominal allometric growth because of their particular energetic needs (egg maturation in nymphal stage and no feeding in the adults), but our data do not support this hypothesis, which suggests that isometric growth does provide sufficient storage for both mature gametes and reserve nutrients for adult life in the nymphal abdomen.