Comparisons of sympatric species inhabiting the same ecological habitat may elucidate adaptive processes. We studied the physiological patterns of two species of the genus Limicolaria (L. aurora and L. flammea) that thrive in a hot tropical habitat. We examined changes in water content, biochemical fuel reserves and haemolymph enzyme activities during aestivation and activity. Our results indicate that both species had the potential to conserve body water during aestivation. A definite pattern in foot muscle biochemical fuel reserves was observed. Both species depleted glycogen during aestivation while building up lipids. Catabolism of protein was observed during aestivation. Lactate levels and the activity of lactate dehydrogenase both decreased during aestivation, and both variables later increased at the onset of activity. Significantly higher enzyme activities were recorded during aestivation than during the active period. Stepwise discrimination analysis revealed lactate as the significant predictor of differences between the two periods, with 97.9% of the cases correctly classified. No significant correlation was observed between the measured variables and climatic data. Our results suggest that the physiological adaptation of Limicolaria is not environmentally predictable, rather it is inherently determined for ensuring physiological adjustment for survival in the tropics.

比较居住在同一生态栖息地的同胞物种可能阐明适应过程。我们研究了两种Limicolaria（L. aurora和L. flammea）的生理模式）在炎热的热带栖息地壮成长。我们研究了在吸水和活动期间水分含量，生化燃料储备和血淋巴酶活性的变化。我们的结果表明，这两种物种都有可能在耕种过程中节约体内水分。观察到足部肌肉生化燃料储备的确定模式。两种植物在培养过程中都消耗了糖原，同时增加了脂质。在培养过程中观察到蛋白质的分解代谢。乳酸水平和乳酸脱氢酶的活性在受精过程中均下降，并且两个变量后来在活性开始时均升高。在耕作期间记录到的酶活性明显高于活跃时期。逐步判别分析显示，乳酸是两个时期差异的重要预测因子，为97。9％的情况正确分类。在测得的变量和气候数据之间没有观察到明显的相关性。我们的研究结果表明升麻不是在环境上可预测的，而是为确保在热带地区生存的生理调整而固有地确定的。