The physiological ecology of talitrid amphipods: an update

<jats:p> A review of the major advances made in the field of the physiological ecology of talitrid amphipods (Crustacea: Amphipoda: Talitridae) over the past decade is presented. The following subjects are reviewed and their implications for the invasion of land by this group discussed: water relations, the role of exosomatic water, osmotic and ionic regulation, developmental ecophysiology, trace metals, nitrogenous excretion, gas exchange and transport, and thermal relations. It is concluded that an in-depth study of physiological "services" provided by the ventral groove is needed, and that at present, our understanding of talitrid physiological ecology is still heavily dependent on semiterrestrial species. We urgently require more studies on the physiology of palustral beachfleas and euterrestrial amphipods, particularly group IV:2 species (an evolutionarily more recent group that evolved from beachflea-type progenitors), in order to redress the current imbalance. </jats:p>