scholarly journals Multimodal Aposematic Defenses Through the Predation Sequence

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne E. Winters ◽  
Jenna Lommi ◽  
Jimi Kirvesoja ◽  
Ossi Nokelainen ◽  
Johanna Mappes
Keyword(s):  
Pyrrolizidine Alkaloid ◽  
Warning Signal ◽  
Chemical Defenses ◽  
Species Variation ◽  
Cyanistes Caeruleus ◽  
Alkaloid Sequestration ◽  
Predator Attack ◽  
Body Tissues ◽  
Aversive Taste ◽  
Tiger Moths

Aposematic organisms warn predators of their unprofitability using a combination of defenses, including visual warning signals, startling sounds, noxious odors, or aversive tastes. Using multiple lines of defense can help prey avoid predators by stimulating multiple senses and/or by acting at different stages of predation. We tested the efficacy of three lines of defense (color, smell, taste) during the predation sequence of aposematic wood tiger moths (Arctia plantaginis) using blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) predators. Moths with two hindwing phenotypes (genotypes: WW/Wy = white, yy = yellow) were manipulated to have defense fluid with aversive smell (methoxypyrazines), body tissues with aversive taste (pyrrolizidine alkaloids) or both. In early predation stages, moth color and smell had additive effects on bird approach latency and dropping the prey, with the strongest effect for moths of the white morph with defense fluids. Pyrrolizidine alkaloid sequestration was detrimental in early attack stages, suggesting a trade-off between pyrrolizidine alkaloid sequestration and investment in other defenses. In addition, pyrrolizidine alkaloid taste alone did not deter bird predators. Birds could only effectively discriminate toxic moths from non-toxic moths when neck fluids containing methoxypyrazines were present, at which point they abandoned attack at the consumption stage. As a result, moths of the white morph with an aversive methoxypyrazine smell and moths in the treatment with both chemical defenses had the greatest chance of survival. We suggest that methoxypyrazines act as context setting signals for warning colors and as attention alerting or “go-slow” signals for distasteful toxins, thereby mediating the relationship between warning signal and toxicity. Furthermore, we found that moths that were heterozygous for hindwing coloration had more effective defense fluids compared to other genotypes in terms of delaying approach and reducing the latency to drop the moth, suggesting a genetic link between coloration and defense that could help to explain the color polymorphism. Conclusively, these results indicate that color, smell, and taste constitute a multimodal warning signal that impedes predator attack and improves prey survival. This work highlights the importance of understanding the separate roles of color, smell and taste through the predation sequence and also within-species variation in chemical defenses.

scholarly journals Vanewrightia gen. nov.—A Highly Variable Taxon of Neotropical Ctenuchina (Lepidoptera: Erebidae: Arctiinae: Arctiini) Revealed by Behavioral Traits

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Boppré ◽  
Juan Grados ◽  
Michel Laguerre ◽  
Julio Monzón
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Intraspecific Variation ◽  
New Genus ◽  
Pyrrolizidine Alkaloid ◽  
Junior Synonym ◽  
Behavioral Traits ◽  
Tiger Moths ◽  
A New Species

Abstract A series of different-looking tiger moths was collected at pyrrolizidine alkaloid baits in the daytime in Peru. They proved to be variants of a new genus, Vanewrightia  gen. nov., and a new species, Vanewrightia kiesela  sp. nov., both described here. This species presents a striking example of extensive intraspecific variation within a population. Its discovery demonstrates the importance of sampling moths by means other than collecting with light, of studying patterns of wing undersides, and of the value of barcoding. Specimens found in collections considered here potentially to represent further species of the new genus are documented and discussed; Vanewrightia subflavescens (Kaye, 1911) comb. nov., and Vanewrightia patawaensis (Cerda, 2017) comb. nov. are established; we propose Epidesma parva (Rothschild, 1912) as a junior synonym of E. aurimacula (Schaus, 1905). The newly recognized intraspecific variation greatly challenges delimitation of morphospecies and uncovers uncertainties in the taxonomy of Epidesma Hübner, [1819]. The occurrence of an oblique forewing band in many Lepidoptera and the stunning similarity in overall appearance of variants of Vanewrightia with unrelated taxa, in particular notodontid moths (Josiini) and Chamaelimnas C. & R. Felder, [1885] butterflies (Riodinidae), are discussed in the context of mimicry and crypsis, and some perspectives for further research are suggested.

The effect of predator appetite, prey warning coloration and luminance on predator foraging decisions

Behaviour ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 147 (9) ◽  
pp. 1121-1143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Martin Stevens ◽  
Johanna Mappes ◽  
Siiri-Lii Sandre
Keyword(s):  
Methodological Approach ◽  
Luminance Contrast ◽  
Colour Pattern ◽  
Species Variation ◽  
Insect Larvae ◽  
Predator Attack ◽  
Aposematic Signals ◽  
Predator Foraging ◽  
Colour Patterns ◽  
Visual Properties

AbstractAposematic prey advertise their defence to visually hunting predators using conspicuous warning colouration. Established theory predicts that aposematic signals should evolve towards increased conspicuousness and similarity to enhance predator education. Contrary to theoretical expectations, there is often considerable within- and between-species variation in aposematic signals of animals sharing the same ecological niche, phylogeny and predators. This may be explained by varying responses of predators that weaken the selection pressure for a consistent signal. By presenting painted mealworm larvae as prey to great tits as predators we tested if different aposematic colour patterns have different values as a means of initial protection and learnt avoidance from predators, and how widely birds generalise their learnt avoidance to other colour patterns. We also investigated how the colour and luminance of the pattern elements affect predator attack decisions. Finally, we studied if hunger affects the predators' reaction to differently coloured prey. We found that similarity in colour was not crucial to the survival of aposematic prey, since learnt avoidance was not influenced by colour, and predators remembered and generalised widely in their learnt avoidance to other colours. We found that initial avoidance was, however, apparently influenced by luminance contrast. Interestingly, the predators' level of hunger was more important than the colour of the aposematic signal in determining birds' decisions to attack chemically-defended insect larvae. We discuss the implications of visual properties of prey colour pattern and predator appetite for the evolution of insect defences and warning signals. In addition we propose a methodological approach to effectively control for predator appetite in laboratory experiments.

scholarly journals To quiver or to shiver: increased melanization benefits thermoregulation, but reduces warning signal efficacy in the wood tiger moth

2013 ◽  
Vol 280 (1755) ◽  
pp. 20122812 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert H. Hegna ◽  
Ossi Nokelainen ◽  
Jonathan R. Hegna ◽  
Johanna Mappes
Keyword(s):  
Field Experiments ◽  
Warning Signal ◽  
Cold Temperatures ◽  
Signal Efficacy ◽  
Extensive Field ◽  
Tiger Moth ◽  
Thermal Measurements ◽  
Selective Forces ◽  
Parasemia Plantaginis ◽  
Tiger Moths

Melanin production is often considered costly, yet beneficial for thermoregulation. Studies of variation in melanization and the opposing selective forces that underlie its variability contribute greatly to understanding natural selection. We investigated whether melanization benefits are traded off with predation risk to promote observed local and geographical variation in the warning signal of adult male wood tiger moths ( Parasemia plantaginis ). Warning signal variation is predicted to reduce survival in aposematic species. However, in P. plantaginis , male hindwings are either yellow or white in Europe, and show continuous variation in melanized markings that cover 20 to 90 per cent of the hindwing. We found that the amount of melanization increased from 40 to 59 per cent between Estonia (58° N) and north Finland (67° N), suggesting melanization carries thermoregulatory benefits. Our thermal measurements showed that more melanic individuals warmed up more quickly on average than less melanic individuals, which probably benefits flight in cold temperatures. With extensive field experiments in central Finland and the Alpine region, we found that more melanic individuals suffered increased predation. Together, our data suggest that warning signal efficiency is constrained by thermoregulatory benefits. Differences in relative costs and benefits of melanin probably help to maintain the geographical warning signal differences.

Time course of pyrrolizidine alkaloid sequestration in Longitarsus flea beetles (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae)

Chemoecology ◽  
2004 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-23 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ingo Narberhaus ◽  
Susanne Dobler ◽  
Claudine Theuring ◽  
Thomas Hartmann
Keyword(s):  
Time Course ◽  
Pyrrolizidine Alkaloid ◽  
Alkaloid Sequestration ◽  
Flea Beetles

scholarly journals Parental care shapes evolution of aposematism and provides lifelong protection against predators

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Lindstedt ◽  
G. Boncoraglio ◽  
S.C. Cotter ◽  
J.D.J. Gilbert ◽  
R.M Kilner
Keyword(s):  
Parental Care ◽  
Chemical Defense ◽  
Genetic Correlation ◽  
Genetic Correlations ◽  
Visual Display ◽  
Warning Signal ◽  
Evolutionary Change ◽  
Chemical Defenses ◽  
Burying Beetles ◽  
Signal Salience

ABSTRACTSocial interactions within species can modulate the response to selection and determine the extent of evolutionary change. Yet relatively little work has determined whether the social environment can influence the evolution of traits that are selected by interactions with other species - a major source of natural selection. Here we show that the amount of parental care received as an offspring can influence the expression, and potential evolution, of warning displays deployed against predators in adulthood. In theory, warning displays by prey are selected by predators for uniformity and to reliably advertise the extent to which individuals are chemically defended. However, the correlated evolution of intensity of the visual display and strength of the chemical defense is only possible if there is a genetic correlation between them. Adult burying beetles Nicrophorus vespilloides bear bright orange elytral markings which advertise their chemical defenses. We experimentally manipulated the level of maternal care that individuals received when they were larvae and then measured the strength of the correlation between the component parts of the warning display when they reached adulthood. We found that under limited care individuals were smaller and produced less conspicuous warning displays. The underlying family (genetic) correlation between the visual display and the chemical defense was weaker in individuals that received little care as larvae. We conclude that parenting by burying beetles modulates the evolvability of aposematic defense, making correlated evolutionary change in signal intensity and chemical defense less likely when they restrict care to their young.Significance StatementParental care can improve early offspring survival against predators. However, we have little knowledge of how its effects shape the evolution of predator-prey interactions later in the offspring’s life. We tested this with carrion beetles who provide care for offspring and who carry warning coloration to advertise to predators that they are chemically defended. We show that more parental care resulted in larger, more brightly coloured and chemically defended adult beetles. Furthermore, when parents had provided little care for their young we found weaker genetic correlations between warning signal salience and chemical defense. Over time, this could result in untrustworthy warning signals, which could render them ineffective against predators.

scholarly journals Predator-Induced Plasticity on Warning Signal and Larval Life-History Traits of the Aposematic Wood Tiger Moth, Arctia plantaginis

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diana Abondano Almeida ◽  
Johanna Mappes ◽  
Swanne Gordon
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
Predation Risk ◽  
Life Histories ◽  
Development Time ◽  
Life History Traits ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Warning Signal ◽  
Black Body ◽  
Tiger Moth ◽  
Tiger Moths

Predator-induced plasticity in life-history and antipredator traits during the larval period has been extensively studied in organisms with complex life-histories. However, it is unclear whether different levels of predation could induce warning signals in aposematic organisms. Here, we investigated whether predator-simulated handling affects warning coloration and life-history traits in the aposematic wood tiger moth larva, Arctia plantaginis. As juveniles, a larger orange patch on an otherwise black body signifies a more efficient warning signal against predators but this comes at the costs of conspicuousness and thermoregulation. Given this, one would expect that an increase in predation risk would induce flexible expression of the orange patch. Prior research in this system points to plastic effects being important as a response to environmental changes for life history traits, but we had yet to assess whether this was the case for predation risk, a key driver of this species evolution. Using a full-sib rearing design, in which individuals were reared in the presence and absence of a non-lethal simulated bird attack, we evaluated flexible responses of warning signal size (number of orange segments), growth, molting events, and development time in wood tiger moths. All measured traits except development time showed a significant response to predation. Larvae from the predation treatment developed a more melanized warning signal (smaller orange patch), reached a smaller body size, and molted more often. Our results suggest plasticity is indeed important in aposematic organisms, but in this case may be complicated by the trade-off between costly pigmentation and other life-history traits.

scholarly journals Molecular physiology of chemical defenses in a poison frog

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie N. Caty ◽  
Aurora Alvarez-Buylla ◽  
Gary D. Byrd ◽  
Charles Vidoudez ◽  
Alexandre B. Roland ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Small Molecule ◽  
Chemical Defenses ◽  
Protein Abundance ◽  
Blood Proteins ◽  
Molecular Physiology ◽  
Poison Frogs ◽  
Alkaloid Sequestration ◽  
Molecule Transport ◽  
Small Molecule Transport

AbstractPoison frogs sequester small molecule lipophilic alkaloids from their diet of leaf litter arthropods for use as chemical defenses against predation. Although the dietary acquisition of chemical defenses in poison frogs is well-documented, the physiological mechanisms of alkaloid sequestration has not been investigated. Here, we used RNA sequencing and proteomics to determine how alkaloids impact mRNA or protein abundance in the Little Devil Frog (Oophaga sylvatica) and compared wild caught chemically defended frogs to laboratory frogs raised on an alkaloid-free diet. To understand how poison frogs move alkaloids from their diet to their skin granular glands, we focused on measuring gene expression in the intestines, skin, and liver. Across these tissues, we found many differentially expressed transcripts involved in small molecule transport and metabolism, as well as sodium channels and other ion pumps. We then used proteomic approaches to quantify plasma proteins, where we found several protein abundance differences between wild and laboratory frogs, including the amphibian neurotoxin binding protein saxiphilin. Finally, because many blood proteins are synthesized in the liver, we used thermal proteome profiling as an untargeted screen for soluble proteins that bind the alkaloid decahydroquinoline. Using this approach, we identified several candidate proteins that interact with this alkaloid, including saxiphilin. These transcript and protein abundance patterns suggest the presence of alkaloids influences frog physiology and that small molecule transport proteins may be involved in toxin bioaccumulation in dendrobatid poison frogs.ResumenLas ranas venenosas obtienen moléculas lipofílicas a partir de su dieta de artrópodos que luego usan como una defensa química contra depredadores. Mientras que la acumulación de toxinas dietéticas ha sido bien documentada, el mecanismo fisiológico de obtención de alcaloides no ha sido investigado. En este estudio usamos secuenciación de RNA y proteómica para determinar cómo la presencia de alcaloides afecta la abundancia de mRNA y proteínas en ranas diablito (Oophaga sylvatica) silvestres con defensas químicas en comparación a ranas diablito criadas en laboratorio con una dieta sin alcaloides. Para entender cómo las ranas venenosas mueven los alcaloides de su dieta a las glándulas granulares en su piel, nos enfocamos en medir la expresión de genes en tres tejidos: intestinos, piel e hígado. En estos tejidos, encontramos varios transcriptomas regulados diferencialmente que tienen actividades involucradas con el transporte y metabolismo de pequeñas moléculas, además de canales de sodio y bombas de iones. Luego usamos métodos proteómicos para cuantificar proteínas en plasma, donde encontramos varias diferencias en abundancia de proteínas entre las ranas silvestres y de laboratorio, incluyendo la proteína anfibia de fijación de toxinas, saxifilina. Finalmente, debido a que muchas proteínas encontradas en la sangre se sintetizan en el hígado, usamos la técnica de perfilación proteómica termal para seleccionar imparcialmente las proteínas solubles que fijan el alcaloide decahydroquinolina. Usando este método, identificamos varias posibles proteínas que interactúan con este alcaloide, incluyendo saxifilina. Estos patrones de cambios en abundancia de transcriptomas y proteínas en ranas con y sin defensas químicas sugieren que la presencia de alcaloides influye en la fisiología de las ranas y que moléculas proteicas pequeñas de transporte podrían estar involucradas en la bioacumulación de toxinas en ranas venenosas dendrobátidos.Summary StatementChemically defended wild poison frogs have gene expression and protein abundance differences across several tissue systems compared to poison frogs reared on an alkaloid-free diet.

Acute lung injury induced by the pyrrolizidine alkaloid monocrotaline in mice

Pneumologie ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 60 (S 1) ◽  
Author(s):  
R Dumitrascu ◽  
S Köbrich ◽  
H Traupe ◽  
E Dony ◽  
S Pullamsetti ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Acute Lung Injury ◽  
Lung Injury ◽  
Pyrrolizidine Alkaloid

Efektivitas Aroma Terapi Lemon untuk Menangani Emesis Gravidarum

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 277-284
Author(s):  
Vitrianingsih Vitrianingsih ◽  
Sitti Khadijah
Keyword(s):  
Pregnant Women ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
T Test ◽  
The Body ◽  
Nausea And Vomiting ◽  
P Value ◽  
Purposive Sampling ◽  
Body Tissues ◽  
Quasi Experimental ◽  
Paired T Test

Studi memperkirakan emesis gravidarum terjadi pada 50-90% kehamilan. Mual muntah pada kehamilan memberikan dampak yang signifikan bagi tubuh dimana ibu menjadi lemah, pucat dan cairan tubuh berkurang sehingga darah menjadi kental (hemokonsentrasi). Keadaan ini dapat memperlambat peredaran darah dan berakibat pada kurangnya suplay oksigen serta makanan ke jaringan sehingga dapat membahayakan kesehatan ibu dan janin. Salah satu terapi yang aman dan dapat dilakukan untuk mengurangi keluahan mual muntah pada ibu hamil adalah pemberian aromaterapi lemon. Penelitian bertujuan untuk mengetahui efektifitas aroma terapi lemon untuk menangani emesis gravidarum. Penelitian ini menggunakan rancangan Quasi experiment  dengan  one group pre-post test design. Populasi penelitian adalah ibu hamil yang mengalami emesis gravidarum di Kecamatan Berbah, Sleman. Jumlah sampel 20 ibu hamil trimester pertama yang diambil dengan teknik purposive sampling. Pengukuran mual muntah dilakukan debelum dan setelah  pemberian aromaterapi lemon menggunakan Indeks Rhodes. Analisa data menggunakan uji Paired t-test. Hasil penelitian didapatkan rata-rata skor mual muntah sebelum pemberian aromaterapi lemon berdasarkan Indeks Rhodes pada Ibu Hamil dengan emesis gravidarum yaitu 22,1 dan terjadi penurunan skor setelah pemberian aromaterapi lemon menjadi 19,8. Ada pengaruh pemberian aromaterapi lemon dengan pengurangan mual muntah pada ibu hamil (p-value = 0.017). Berdasarkan hasil penelitian dapat disimpulkan pemberian aromaterapi lemon efektif untuk mengurangi emesis gravidarum pada ibu hamil trimester pertama.  Kata kunci: aromaterapi lemon, emesis gravidarum THE EFFECTIVENESS OF LEMON AROMATHERAPY FOR HANDLING EMESIS GRAVIDARUM   ABSTRACT Studies estimate that nausea and vomiting (emesis gravidarum) occur in 50 – 90% of pregnancies. Nausea and vomiting of pregnancy have a significant impact on the body in which it makes a mother becomes weak, pale, and decreasing body fluid so that the blood becomes thick (hemoconcentration). This situation can slow down blood circulation and inflict the lack of oxygen and food supplies to the body tissues so that it can endanger the health of the mother and fetus. One of the therapies that is safe and can be conducted to reduce nausea and vomiting of pregnancy is by giving the lemon aromatherapy treatment. The research aims to determine the effectiveness of the aroma of lemon therapy to deal with emesis gravidarum. This study applied quasi-experimental research with one group pretest-posttest design. The population of this study was pregnant women who experienced emesis gravidarum. Furthermore, samples were 20 mothers from Berbah, Sleman taken by using a purposive sampling technique. Nausea and vomiting were assessed between before and after giving lemon aromatherapy using the Rhodes Index. The data were analyzed using the paired t-test. The mean score of nausea and vomiting before giving lemon aromatherapy on mother with emesis gravidarum based on the Rhodes Index was 22.1. However, it decreased after given lemon aromatherapy treatment to 19.8. Therefore, there was an effect on giving lemon aromatherapy treatment toward the decrease of nausea and vomiting for pregnant women (p-value = 0.017). Lemon aromatherapy is effective to reduce emesis gravidarum.  Keywords: lemon aromatherapy, emesis gravidarum

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