scholarly journals Behaviour of freshwater snails (Radix balthica) exposed to the pharmaceutical sertraline under simulated predation risk

Ecotoxicology ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 144-153 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melanie Lea Hedgespeth ◽  
Tomasz Karasek ◽  
Johan Ahlgren ◽  
Olof Berglund ◽  
Christer Brönmark
Keyword(s):  
Predation Risk ◽  
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors ◽  
Habitat Choice ◽  
Freshwater Snail ◽  
Predatory Fish ◽  
Interspecies Interactions ◽  
Predator Cues ◽  
Predator Attack ◽  
Radix Balthica ◽  
Fish Predators

AbstractDue to their potential for affecting the modulation of behaviour, effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in the environment are particularly interesting regarding interspecies interactions and non-consumptive effects (NCEs) induced by predator cues in prey organisms. We evaluated the effects of sertraline (0.4, 40 ng/L, 40 µg/L) over 8 days on activity and habitat choice in the freshwater snail Radix balthica, on snails’ boldness in response to mechanical stimulation (simulating predator attack), and their activity/habitat choice in response to chemical cues from predatory fish. We hypothesised that sertraline exposure would detrimentally impact NCEs elicited by predator cues, increasing predation risk. Although there were no effects of sertraline on NCEs, there were observed effects of chemical cue from predatory fish on snail behaviour independent of sertraline exposure. Snails reduced their activity in which the percentage of active snails decreased by almost 50% after exposure to fish cue. Additionally, snails changed their habitat use by moving away from open (exposed) areas. The general lack of effects of sertraline on snails’ activity and other behaviours in this study is interesting considering that other SSRIs have been shown to induce changes in gastropod behaviour. This raises questions on the modes of action of various SSRIs in gastropods, as well as the potential for a trophic “mismatch” of effects between fish predators and snail prey in aquatic systems.

Perceived predation risk, parasitism, and the foraging behavior of a freshwater snail (Potamopyrgus antipodarum)

1998 ◽  
Vol 76 (10) ◽  
pp. 1878-1884 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward P Levri
Keyword(s):  
Predation Risk ◽  
Foraging Behavior ◽  
Freshwater Snail ◽  
Potamopyrgus Antipodarum ◽  
Plain Water ◽  
Fish Diet ◽  
Fish Predator ◽  
Size Dependent ◽  
Individual Size ◽  
Perceived Predation Risk

Foraging behavior can be influenced by such factors as predation risk, individual size, and parasite infection. Snails (Potamopyrgus antipodarum) placed in tanks with large rocks were exposed to four types of water: (1) water with crushed snails, (2) water from a tank in which fish (Gobiomorphus cotidianus) were fed only trout chow, (3) water from a tank where the fish were also fed snails, and (4) plain water. Snails could respond by moving to the top of rocks (where algal food was present) or to the bottom of rocks (where the predation risk was lower). The snails responded to fish chemicals by moving to the bottom of rocks. The response was dependent on snail size and fish diet. Smaller snails moved to the bottom of rocks more than larger snails did. Trematode-infected snails were found on top of the rocks more than other classes of snails, but infected snails still moved to the bottom of rocks in response to the fish predator. Snails eaten by fish in the field tend to be smaller than snails in the overall available population. Thus, snails that are more vulnerable to predation respond more intensely to the odor of fish by moving to the bottom of rocks. This size-dependent response to fish appears to be independent of the occurrence of trematode infection.

Survival and behaviour of juvenile red rock lobster, Jasus edwardsii, on rocky reefs with varying predation pressure and habitat complexity

2008 ◽  
Vol 59 (3) ◽  
pp. 246 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. A. S. Mislan ◽  
Russ C. Babcock
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Kelp Forest ◽  
Predatory Fish ◽  
Rocky Reef ◽  
Rocky Reefs ◽  
Jasus Edwardsii ◽  
Fish Predators ◽  
Two Factors ◽  
Direct And Indirect Impacts ◽  
Indirect Impacts

The role of large predatory fish in coastal communities is generally unknown because of overfishing. In order to understand the direct and indirect impacts of these increased population sizes on coastal food chains, the effect of areas with more fish predators on the survival and behaviour of potential prey was assessed. Juvenile lobsters, Jasus edwardsii (10–20 mm carapace length), were tethered on rocky reefs inside and outside marine reserves in northeastern New Zealand to assess survival under differing predator densities. Since rocky reef habitats in northeastern New Zealand include zones of kelp forest and barren reef, a two-way factorial design was used to determine the effects of predators, habitat, and the interaction of these two factors on juvenile lobster survival. Overall, the results indicated that neither varying large fish density nor varying kelp density had direct impacts on the survival rate of juvenile lobsters. Laboratory manipulations demonstrated behavioural changes by juvenile lobsters such that when a large predatory fish was present, juvenile lobsters spent significantly less time moving, even when separated from the predator by a porous barrier. Thus areas with more fish predators may increase juvenile lobster survival but potentially at the cost of reduced feeding opportunities.

Interlake variation in growth and size structure of bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus): inverse analysis of an individual-based model

1998 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 387-396 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan P Nibbelink ◽  
Stephen R Carpenter
Keyword(s):  
Predation Risk ◽  
Food Availability ◽  
Inverse Modeling ◽  
Habitat Structure ◽  
Size Structure ◽  
Lepomis Macrochirus ◽  
Habitat Choice ◽  
Selective Predation ◽  
Free Parameters ◽  
Contrasting Habitats

Habitat structure alters food availability and predation risk, thereby directly affecting growth, mortality, and size structure of fish populations. Size structure has often been used to infer patterns of resource abundance and predation. However, food availability and predation risk in contrasting habitats have proven difficult to measure in the field. We use an inverse modeling approach to estimate food availability and habitat choice parameters from changes in length distributions of bluegill (Lepomis macrochirus). The model suggests that dynamics of bluegill length distributions primarily reflect food availability and habitat choice. Bluegill behavior minimized effects of size-selective predation on size structure. Parameters for food availability and habitat choice were correlated. It was therefore not possible to attain unique estimates of food availability and habitat selection when both were free parameters. However, when one parameter was estimated independently, the other could be identified. In five Wisconsin lakes, seining studies were used to estimate the size at which bluegill switched from littoral to pelagic habitats. Using this measure of switch size in the model, we estimated food availability for bluegill in each lake. These estimates were positively correlated with observed growth (r2 = 0.91), demonstrating the model's ability to estimate food availability.

scholarly journals Predation selects for smaller eye size in a vertebrate: effects of environmental conditions and sex

2019 ◽  
Vol 286 (1897) ◽  
pp. 20182625 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Svanbäck ◽  
Frank Johansson
Keyword(s):  
Visual Acuity ◽  
Phenotypic Plasticity ◽  
Experimental Evidence ◽  
Predation Risk ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Retinal Image ◽  
The Other ◽  
Eye Size ◽  
Fish Predators ◽  
Resource Levels

Increased eye size in animals results in a larger retinal image and thus improves visual acuity. Thus, larger eyes should aid both in finding food as well as detecting predators. On the other hand, eyes are usually very conspicuous and several studies have suggested that eye size is associated with predation risk. However, experimental evidence is scant. In this study, we address how predation affects variation in eye size by performing two experiments using Eurasian perch juveniles as prey and either larger perch or pike as predators. First, we used large outdoor tanks to compare selection due to predators on relative eye size in open and artificial vegetated habitats. Second, we studied the effects of both predation risk and resource levels on phenotypic plasticity in relative eye size in indoor aquaria experiments. In the first experiment, we found that habitat altered selection due to predators, since predators selected for smaller eye size in a non-vegetated habitat, but not in a vegetated habitat. In the plasticity experiment, we found that fish predators induced smaller eye size in males, but not in females, while resource levels had no effect on eye size plasticity. Our experiments provide evidence that predation risk could be one of the driving factors behind variation in eye size within species.

Natural stressors and disease risk: does the threat of predation increase amphibian susceptibility to ranavirus?

2012 ◽  
Vol 90 (7) ◽  
pp. 893-902 ◽  
Author(s):  
N.A. Haislip ◽  
J.T. Hoverman ◽  
D.L. Miller ◽  
M.J. Gray
Keyword(s):  
Predation Risk ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Species Interactions ◽  
Disease Risk ◽  
Natural Populations ◽  
Emerging Infectious Diseases ◽  
Host Susceptibility ◽  
Continuous Exposure ◽  
Amphibian Species ◽  
Predator Cues

Emerging infectious diseases have been identified as threats to biodiversity, yet our understanding of the factors contributing to host susceptibility to pathogens within natural populations remains limited. It has been proposed that species interactions within communities affect host susceptibility to pathogens, thereby contributing to disease emergence. In particular, predation risk is a common natural stressor that has been hypothesized to compromise immune function of prey through chronic stress responses possibly leading to increased susceptibility to pathogens. We examined whether predation risk experienced during the development of four larval anuran species increases susceptibility (mortality and infection) to ranaviruses, a group of viruses responsible for amphibian die-offs. Using controlled laboratory experiments, we exposed each species to a factorial combination of two virus treatments (no virus or virus) crossed with three predator-cue treatments (no predators, larval dragonflies, or adult water bugs). All four amphibian species reduced activity by 22%–48% following continuous exposure to predator cues. In addition, virus exposure significantly reduced survival by 17%–100% across all species. However, exposure to predator cues did not interact with the virus treatments to elevate mortality or viral load. Our results suggest that the expression of predator-induced plasticity in anuran larvae does not increase ranaviral disease risk.

The wolf spider Pardosa milvina detects predator threat level using only vibratory cues

Behaviour ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 153 (2) ◽  
pp. 159-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael I. Sitvarin ◽  
Shira D. Gordon ◽  
George W. Uetz ◽  
Ann L. Rypstra
Keyword(s):  
Predation Risk ◽  
Wolf Spider ◽  
Multiple Modalities ◽  
Predator Cues ◽  
Pardosa Milvina ◽  
Threat Level ◽  
Predator Threat

Predators may inadvertently signal their presence and threat level by way of signals in multiple modalities. We used a spider, Pardosa milvina, known to respond adaptively to chemotactile predator cues (i.e., silk, faeces and other excreta) to evaluate whether it could also discriminate predation risk from isolated vibratory cues. Vibrations from its prey, conspecifics, and predators (Tigrosa helluo and Scarites quadriceps) were recorded and played back to Pardosa. In addition, we recorded predator vibrations with and without access to chemotactile cues from Pardosa, indicating the presence of prey. Pardosa did not appear to discriminate between vibrations from prey or conspecifics, but the response to predators depended on the presence of cues from Pardosa. Vibrations from predators with access to chemotactile cues from prey induced reductions in Pardosa activity. Predator cues typically occur in multiple modalities, but prey are capable of imperfectly evaluating predation risk using a limited subset of information.

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