scholarly journals Knowing the Enemy: Inducible Defences in Freshwater Zooplankton

Diversity ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (4) ◽  
pp. 147 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia Diel ◽  
Marvin Kiene ◽  
Dominik Martin-Creuzburg ◽  
Christian Laforsch

Phenotypic plasticity in defensive traits is an appropriate mechanism to cope with the variable hazard of a frequently changing predator spectrum. In the animal kingdom these so-called inducible defences cover the entire taxonomic range from protozoans to vertebrates. The inducible defensive traits range from behaviour, morphology, and life-history adaptations to the activation of specific immune systems in vertebrates. Inducible defences in prey species play important roles in the dynamics and functioning of food webs. Freshwater zooplankton show the most prominent examples of inducible defences triggered by chemical cues, so-called kairomones, released by predatory invertebrates and fish. The objective of this review is to highlight recent progress in research on inducible defences in freshwater zooplankton concerning behaviour, morphology, and life-history, as well as difficulties of studies conducted in a multipredator set up. Furthermore, we outline costs associated with the defences and discuss difficulties as well as the progress made in characterizing defence-inducing cues. Finally, we aim to indicate further possible routes in this field of research and provide a comprehensive table of inducible defences with respect to both prey and predator species.

Author(s):  
André M. de Roos ◽  
Lennart Persson

This chapter discusses a variety of positive interactions between predators foraging on different stages of the same prey species, which all emerge owing to the biomass overcompensation that may occur in prey life history stages in response to increased mortality. These interactions include emergent facilitation of specialist predators by generalists that forage on the same prey individuals as the specialists, but in addition forage on smaller or larger prey individuals as well. Furthermore, the chapter shows that two predators that specialize on different life-history stages of prey can facilitate each other to the extent that one predator relies on the presence of the other for its persistence. A stage-specific predator may act as a catalyst species, which promotes and in fact is necessary for the invasion of another predator species, but is subsequently outcompeted by the latter.


2012 ◽  
Vol 90 (1) ◽  
pp. 128-132 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bradley R. Johnston ◽  
Markus Molis ◽  
Ricardo A. Scrosati

Nonconsumptive predator effects on prey behaviour are common in nature, but the possible influence of prey life-history stage on such responses is poorly known. We investigated whether prey life-history stage may be a factor affecting prey feeding activity responses to predator chemical cues, for which we used dogwhelks ( Nucella lapillus (L., 1758)) and their main prey, barnacles ( Semibalanus balanoides (L., 1758)), as a model system. Barnacles use their modified legs (cirri) to filter food from the water column. Through a manipulative laboratory experiment, we tested the hypothesis that the presence of dogwhelks affects the frequency of leg swipes differently in juvenile and adult barnacles. Juveniles showed a similar feeding activity with and without nearby dogwhelks, but adults exhibited a significantly lower frequency of leg swipes when dogwhelks were present. Such an ontogenetic change in the response of barnacles to predatory cues might have evolved as a result of dogwhelks preferring adult barnacles over juvenile barnacles, as found previously. Alternatively, barnacles could learn to recognize predator cues as they age, as shown for other prey species. Overall, our study indicates that the nonconsumptive effects of predators on prey need to be fully understood under consideration of the possible ontogenetic changes in prey responses to predator cues.


2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris K. Elvidge ◽  
Grant E. Brown

To date, little attention has been devoted to possible complementary effects of multiple forms of public information similar information on the foraging behaviour of predators. In order to examine how predators may incorporate multiple information sources, we conducted a series of predator attraction trials in the Lower Aripo River, Trinidad. Four combinations of visual (present or absent) and chemical cues (present or absent) from each of two prey species were presented. The occurrences of three locally abundant predatory species present within a 1 m radius of cue introduction sites were recorded. The relative attractiveness of cue type to each predator was directly related to their primary foraging modes, with visual ambush predators demonstrating an attraction to visual cues, benthivores to chemical cues, and active social foragers demonstrating complementary responses to paired cues. Predator species-pair counts were greatest in response to cues from the more abundant prey species, indicating that individuals may adopt riskier foraging strategies when presented with more familiar prey cues. These differences in predator attraction patterns demonstrate complementary effects of multiple sensory cues on the short-term habitat use and foraging behaviour of predators under fully natural conditions.


2001 ◽  
Vol 58 (11) ◽  
pp. 2167-2176 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jeremy S Collie ◽  
Henrik Gislason

Biological reference points (BRPs) are widely used to define safe levels of harvesting for marine fish populations. Most BRPs are either minimum acceptable biomass levels or maximum fishing mortality rates. The values of BRPs are determined from historical abundance data and the life-history parameters of the fish species. However, when the life-history parameters change over time, the BRPs become moving targets. In particular, the natural mortality rate of prey species depends on predator levels; conversely, predator growth rates depend on prey availability. We tested a suite of BRPs for their robustness to observed changes in natural mortality and growth rates. We used the relatively simple Baltic Sea fish community for this sensitivity test, with cod as predator and sprat and herring as prey. In general, the BRPs were much more sensitive to the changes in natural mortality rates than to growth variation. For a prey species like sprat, fishing mortality reference levels should be conditioned on the level of predation mortality. For a predator species, a conservative level of fishing mortality can be identified that will prevent growth overfishing and ensure stock replacement. These first-order multispecies interactions should be considered when defining BRPs for medium-term (5–10 year) management decisions.


1866 ◽  
Vol 156 ◽  
pp. 671-756 ◽  

That the only secure basis of Zoological Science is afforded by a thorough elucidation of the structure and life-history of typical forms representing particular subdivisions of the Animal Kingdom, will not, I anticipate, be disputed by any Naturalist of the present day. And every one who is even slightly acquainted with the history of that Science must be well aware that the standard Monographs which have been devoted to this object have exerted a more permanent influence on its progress, than have any of those comprehensive Systems which have been set up from time to time, and, after lasting for a while, have been overthrown to make way for others scarcely more durable. For any System of Classification is liable to be invalidated by new discovery; and the utmost which can be claimed for it is, that it accurately represents the state of knowledge at the time of its promulgation. But every Monograph which contains a faithful description of the structure and life-history of any type whatever, however far it may be from absolute completeness, presents a body of facts which subsequent research may add to but cannot set aside; and may come to acquire, even at a long subsequent period, a value not anticipated by its author. I cannot suppose, therefore, that any apology is needed for my offering to the Royal Society a detailed account of perhaps the most interesting of our British Echinoderms; of which the structure, notwithstanding the attention given to it by various eminent Anatomists, has been hitherto but very imperfectly made out; whilst of its life-history still less is known. That I have solved every problem which its study has presented, is far more than I can afiirm; but I venture to think that what I now bring forward Will stand the test of future scrutiny; and that the results I have attained will prove of importance, not merely in leading to a better understanding of the important group of which Antedon is a representative, but also in helping to the solution of certain fundamental questions in General Physiology.


2001 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 45-58 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ross W. Jamieson

As one of the most common artifact categories found on Spanish colonial sites, the wheel-made, tin-glazed pottery known as majolica is an important chronological and social indicator for archaeologists. Initially imported from Europe, several manufacturing centers for majolica were set up in the New World by the late sixteenth century. The study of colonial majolica in the Viceroyalty of Peru, which encompassed much of South America, has received less attention than ceramic production and trade in the colonial Caribbean and Mesoamerica. Prior to 1650 the Viceroyalty of Peru was supplied with majolica largely produced in the city of Panama Vieja, on the Pacific. Panama Vieja majolica has been recovered from throughout the Andes, as far south as Argentina. Majolica made in Panama Vieja provides an important chronological indicator of early colonial archaeological contexts in the region. The reproduction of Iberian-style majolica for use on elite tables was symbolically important to the imposition of Spanish rule, and thus Panamanian majolicas also provide an important indicator of elite status on Andean colonial sites.


1952 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 43-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wendell F. Sellers

Collections of Cactophagus spinolae (Gylh.) were made in Mexico in 1946, 1947, and 1948 to supplement the biological control of prickly pear (Opuntia spp.) in South Africa. During these three years, 862, 1,396, and 15,584 adults, respectively, were dispatched to South Africa. The weevils were sent by air express in specially designed containers, and arrived in excellent condition.This paper includes information on the distribution, life history and food preferences of C. spinolae. The need is stressed for anticipating the effects of transit conditions upon living insect material transported by aircraft.


1965 ◽  
Vol 97 (5) ◽  
pp. 541-549 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. P. Smereka

AbstractThe life history of Chrysomela crotchi, a univoltine species commonly found on trembling aspen, was studied in northwestern Ontario from 1959 to 1962. The most striking feature of its life history was the longevity of adults, which were capable of overwintering two successive years. Overwintered adults became active and began feeding in late May, and oviposition occurred from early June to late July. The incubation period was approximately 10 days and the three larval instars required approximately one month for development to the adult stage.Females laid more eggs during their second season and the highest number laid was 326. The number of eggs in an egg mass averaged 37.6, and the average interval between the deposition of egg masses was 4 days. Males and females mated more than once, but only one mating was necessary for a female to produce viable eggs throughout the season. Males were capable of fertilizing more than one female and remained potent for more than one season.Parasitism was low, and only two species of larval parasites were reared. Several predator species were observed preying on the immature stages. Predation and overwintering mortality appeared to be the most important control factors.


2015 ◽  
Vol 282 (1808) ◽  
pp. 20150520 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jay J. Falk ◽  
Hannah M. ter Hofstede ◽  
Patricia L. Jones ◽  
Marjorie M. Dixon ◽  
Paul A. Faure ◽  
...  

Many predators and parasites eavesdrop on the communication signals of their prey. Eavesdropping is typically studied as dyadic predator–prey species interactions; yet in nature, most predators target multiple prey species and most prey must evade multiple predator species. The impact of predator communities on prey signal evolution is not well understood. Predators could converge in their preferences for conspicuous signal properties, generating competition among predators and natural selection on particular prey signal features. Alternatively, predator species could vary in their preferences for prey signal properties, resulting in sensory-based niche partitioning of prey resources. In the Neotropics, many substrate-gleaning bats use the mate-attraction songs of male katydids to locate them as prey. We studied mechanisms of niche partitioning in four substrate-gleaning bat species and found they are similar in morphology, echolocation signal design and prey-handling ability, but each species preferred different acoustic features of male song in 12 sympatric katydid species. This divergence in predator preference probably contributes to the coexistence of many substrate-gleaning bat species in the Neotropics, and the substantial diversity in the mate-attraction signals of katydids. Our results provide insight into how multiple eavesdropping predator species might influence prey signal evolution through sensory-based niche partitioning.


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