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Grzesiuk M, Pietrzak B, Wacker A, Pijanowska J. Photosynthetic activity in both algae and cyanobacteria changes in response to cues of predation. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2022; 13:907174. [PMID: 35958198 PMCID: PMC9358279 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2022.907174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
A plethora of adaptive responses to predation has been described in microscopic aquatic producers. Although the energetic costs of these responses are expected, with their consequences going far beyond an individual, their underlying molecular and metabolic mechanisms are not fully known. One, so far hardly considered, is if and how the photosynthetic efficiency of phytoplankton might change in response to the predation cues. Our main aim was to identify such responses in phytoplankton and to detect if they are taxon-specific. We exposed seven algae and seven cyanobacteria species to the chemical cues of an efficient consumer, Daphnia magna, which was fed either a green alga, Acutodesmus obliquus, or a cyanobacterium, Synechococcus elongatus (kairomone and alarm cues), or was not fed (kairomone alone). In most algal and cyanobacterial species studied, the quantum yield of photosystem II increased in response to predator fed cyanobacterium, whereas in most of these species the yield did not change in response to predator fed alga. Also, cyanobacteria tended not to respond to a non-feeding predator. The modal qualitative responses of the electron transport rate were similar to those of the quantum yield. To our best knowledge, the results presented here are the broadest scan of photosystem II responses in the predation context so far.
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Affiliation(s)
- Małgorzata Grzesiuk
- Department of Hydrobiology, Faculty of Biology, Institute of Functional Biology and Ecology, University of Warsaw Biological and Chemical Research Centre, Warszawa, Poland
- Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Institute of Biology, Warsaw University of Life Sciences (SGGW), Warszawa, Poland
- Department of Ecology and Ecosystem Modelling, Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
| | - Barbara Pietrzak
- Department of Hydrobiology, Faculty of Biology, Institute of Functional Biology and Ecology, University of Warsaw Biological and Chemical Research Centre, Warszawa, Poland
| | - Alexander Wacker
- Department of Ecology and Ecosystem Modelling, Institute of Biochemistry and Biology, University of Potsdam, Potsdam, Germany
- Department of Animal Ecology, Zoological Institute and Museum, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
| | - Joanna Pijanowska
- Department of Hydrobiology, Faculty of Biology, Institute of Functional Biology and Ecology, University of Warsaw Biological and Chemical Research Centre, Warszawa, Poland
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Chivers DP, McCormick MI, Fakan EP, Edmiston JW, Ferrari MCO. Coral degradation impairs learning of non‐predators by Whitetail damselfish. Funct Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2435.13781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Mark I. McCormick
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, and College of Marine & Environmental Sciences James Cook University Townsville Qld Australia
| | - Eric P. Fakan
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, and College of Marine & Environmental Sciences James Cook University Townsville Qld Australia
| | - Jake W. Edmiston
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, and College of Marine & Environmental Sciences James Cook University Townsville Qld Australia
| | - Maud C. O. Ferrari
- Department of Biomedical Sciences WCVMUniversity of Saskatchewan Saskatoon SK Canada
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Chivers DP, McCormick MI, Fakan EP, Barry RP, Edmiston JW, Ferrari MCO. Coral degradation alters predator odour signatures and influences prey learning and survival. Proc Biol Sci 2019; 286:20190562. [PMID: 31138070 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2019.0562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Habitat degradation is a key factor leading to the global loss of biodiversity. This problem is particularly acute in coral reef ecosystems. We investigated whether recognition of predator odours by damselfish was influenced by coral degradation and whether these changes altered survival in the wild. We taught whitespot damselfish to recognize the odour of a predator in the presence of live/healthy coral or dead/degraded coral. Fish were tested for a response to predator odours in environments that matched their conditioning environment or in environments that were mismatched. Next, we taught blue damselfish to recognize the odour of three common reef predators in live and degraded coral environments and then stocked them onto live or degraded patch reefs, where we monitored their subsequent response to predator odour along with their survival. Damselfish learned to recognize predator odours in both coral environments, but the intensity of their antipredator response was much greater when the conditioning and test environments matched. Fish released on degraded coral had about 50% higher survival if they had been trained in the presence of degraded coral rather than live coral. Altering the intensity of antipredator responses could have rather profound consequences on population growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- D P Chivers
- 1 Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan , Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7N 5E2
| | - M I McCormick
- 2 ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, and College of Marine & Environmental Sciences, James Cook University , Townsville, Queensland 4811 , Australia
| | - E P Fakan
- 2 ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, and College of Marine & Environmental Sciences, James Cook University , Townsville, Queensland 4811 , Australia
| | - R P Barry
- 2 ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, and College of Marine & Environmental Sciences, James Cook University , Townsville, Queensland 4811 , Australia
| | - J W Edmiston
- 2 ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, and College of Marine & Environmental Sciences, James Cook University , Townsville, Queensland 4811 , Australia
| | - M C O Ferrari
- 3 Department of Biomedical Sciences, WCVM, University of Saskatchewan , Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada S7W 5B4
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Mitchell MD, Crane AL, Bairos-Novak KR, Ferrari MCO, Chivers DP. Olfactory cues of habitats facilitate learning about landscapes of fear. Behav Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/ary024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew D Mitchell
- Department of Biological Sciences, Florida International University, North Miami, FL, USA
- Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Adam L Crane
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | | | - Maud C O Ferrari
- Department of Veterinary Biomedical Sciences, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
| | - Douglas P Chivers
- Department of Biology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada
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Mitchell MD, Bairos-Novak KR, Ferrari MCO. Mechanisms underlying the control of responses to predator odours in aquatic prey. J Exp Biol 2017; 220:1937-1946. [DOI: 10.1242/jeb.135137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT
In aquatic systems, chemical cues are a major source of information through which animals are able to assess the current state of their environment to gain information about local predation risk. Prey use chemicals released by predators (including cues from a predator's diet) and other prey (such as alarm cues and disturbance cues) to mediate a range of behavioural, morphological and life-history antipredator defences. Despite the wealth of knowledge on the ecology of antipredator defences, we know surprisingly little about the physiological mechanisms that control the expression of these defensive traits. Here, we summarise the current literature on the mechanisms known to specifically mediate responses to predator odours, including dietary cues. Interestingly, these studies suggest that independent pathways may control predator-specific responses, highlighting the need for greater focus on predator-derived cues when looking at the mechanistic control of responses. Thus, we urge researchers to tease apart the effects of predator-specific cues (i.e. chemicals representing a predator's identity) from those of diet-mediated cues (i.e. chemicals released from a predator's diet), which are known to mediate different ecological endpoints. Finally, we suggest some key areas of research that would greatly benefit from a more mechanistic approach.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew D. Mitchell
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, WCVM, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada S7N 5B4
| | | | - Maud C. O. Ferrari
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, WCVM, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada S7N 5B4
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Crane AL, Demuth BS, Ferrari MC. Experience with predators shapes learning rules in larval amphibians. Behav Ecol 2016. [DOI: 10.1093/beheco/arw161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
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Mitchell MD, Ferrari MCO, Lucon-Xiccato T, Chivers DP. Diet cues alter the development of predator recognition templates in tadpoles. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/s00265-016-2176-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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Zabierek K, Epp K. Antipredator response of Eurycea nana to a nocturnal and a diurnal predator: avoidance is not affected by circadian cycles of predators. AMPHIBIA-REPTILIA 2016. [DOI: 10.1163/15685381-00003070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Both predators and prey exhibit cyclic shifts in activity throughout the day, which should cause the threat posed by predators to change in a recurrent pattern. If the threat posed by a predator is dependent on their circadian foraging cycle, prey may respond more or less intensely to predators at different times of day, thereby maximizing the effectiveness and efficiency of avoidance behaviors. We examined whether predator-naïveEurycea nana, a federally threatened neotenic salamander, exhibits a different antipredator response to chemical cues of a diurnal predator, the green sunfish (Lepomis cyanellus), and a nocturnal predator, the red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii). We predicted thatE. nanawould show more intense antipredator responses (reduced activity) to a diurnal predator during the day and to a nocturnal predator at night. We found that, although there was significant antipredator behavior ofE. nanatoward sunfish, there was no detectable response to crayfish and no effect of time of day on responses to either predator, suggesting that eitherE. nanadoes not innately exhibit circadian patterns in avoidance of these species or that those patterns were undetectable in this study. Future studies should examine whether experience with predators may cause these salamanders to be more sensitive to the diel variation in threat, as has been found with some other amphibians and fish. Due to the threatened nature of this species, understanding the factors that influence antipredator behavior are crucial for management.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kristen Epp
- Department of Biology, Eastern Connecticut State University, 83 Windham St, Willimantic, CT 06226, USA
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Ferrari MC, Crane AL, Chivers DP. Certainty and the cognitive ecology of generalization of predator recognition. Anim Behav 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anbehav.2015.10.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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