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Uguen M, Gaudron SM, Nicastro KR, Zardi GI, Spilmont N, Seuront L. Size-dependent response of the mussel collective behaviour to plastic leachates and predator cues. Sci Total Environ 2023; 888:164037. [PMID: 37207783 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.164037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Both individual and collective anti-predator behaviours are essential for the survival of many species. This is particularly true for ecosystem engineers such as intertidal mussels, which through their collective behaviour create novel habitats for a range of organisms and biodiversity hotspots. However, contaminants may disrupt these behaviours and consequently indirectly affect exposure to predation risk at the population level. Among these, plastic litter is a major and ubiquitous contaminant of the marine environment. Here, we assessed the impact of microplastic (MP) leachates of the most produced plastic polymer, polypropylene (PlasticsEurope, 2022), at a high but locally relevant concentration (i.e. ca. 12 g L-1) on the collective behaviours and anti-predator responses of both small and large Mytilus edulis mussels. Indeed, in contrast to large mussels, small ones reacted to MP leachates, showing a taxis towards conspecifics and stronger aggregations. All mussels reacted to the chemical cues of the predatory crab, Hemigrapsus sanguineus, but with two different collective anti-predator behaviours. Small mussels only showed a taxis towards conspecifics when exposed to predator cues. This response was also found in large ones with a tendency to form more strongly bound aggregations and a considerable reduced activity, i.e. they significantly delayed their time to start to form aggregations and decreased their gross distance. These anti-predator behaviours were respectively inhibited and impaired in small and large mussels by MP leachates. The observed collective behavioural changes may reduce individual fitness by enhancing predation risk, particularly in small mussels that are the crab H. sanguineus's favourite preys. Given the key role of mussels as ecosystem engineers, our observations suggest that plastic pollution may have implication on M. edulis at the species level, but also enhancing a cascading effect towards a higher level of organisation such as population, community and ultimately structure and function of intertidal ecosystem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marine Uguen
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Univ. Littoral Côte d'Opale, IRD, UMR 8187, LOG, Laboratoire d'Océanologie et de Géosciences, Station marine de Wimereux, F-59000 Lille, France.
| | - Sylvie M Gaudron
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Univ. Littoral Côte d'Opale, IRD, UMR 8187, LOG, Laboratoire d'Océanologie et de Géosciences, Station marine de Wimereux, F-59000 Lille, France; Sorbonne Université, UFR 927, F-75005 Paris, France
| | - Katy R Nicastro
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Univ. Littoral Côte d'Opale, IRD, UMR 8187, LOG, Laboratoire d'Océanologie et de Géosciences, Station marine de Wimereux, F-59000 Lille, France; Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa; CCMAR-Centro de Ciencias do Mar, CIMAR Laboratório Associado, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Faro 8005-139, Portugal
| | - Gerardo I Zardi
- Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa; Laboratoire de Biologie des Organismes et Ecosystèmes Aquatiques (BOREA), Université de Caen-Normandie, MNHN, SU, UA, CNRS, IRD, Esplanade de la paix, 14032 Caen Cedex, France
| | - Nicolas Spilmont
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Univ. Littoral Côte d'Opale, IRD, UMR 8187, LOG, Laboratoire d'Océanologie et de Géosciences, Station marine de Wimereux, F-59000 Lille, France
| | - Laurent Seuront
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Univ. Littoral Côte d'Opale, IRD, UMR 8187, LOG, Laboratoire d'Océanologie et de Géosciences, Station marine de Wimereux, F-59000 Lille, France; Department of Zoology and Entomology, Rhodes University, Grahamstown 6140, South Africa; Department of Marine Resources and Energy, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, 4-5-7 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8477, Japan
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Calvet ÉC, Lima DB, Melo JWS, Gondim MGC. Chemosensory cues of predators and competitors influence search for refuge in fruit by the coconut mite Aceria guerreronis. Exp Appl Acarol 2018; 74:249-259. [PMID: 29488046 DOI: 10.1007/s10493-018-0233-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2017] [Accepted: 02/18/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Organisms are adapted to recognize environmental cues that can provide information about predation risk or competition. Non-vagrant eriophyoid mites mainly avoid predation by using habitats that are difficult for predators to access (galls or confined spaces in plants) such as the meristematic region of the coconut fruit, which is inhabited by the phytophagous mites Aceria guerreronis and Steneotarsonemus concavuscutum. The objective of this study was to investigate the response of A. guerreronis to cues from the predators Neoseiulus baraki and Amblyseius largoensis in coconut fruits, cues from conspecifics (A. guerreronis injured) and cues from the phytophage S. concavuscutum. The test was carried out through the release of about 300 A. guerreronis on coconut fruits previously treated with cues from predators, conspecific or heterospecific phytophagous. We also observed the walking behaviour of A. guerreronis exposed to the same chemical cues using a video tracking system. The infestation of fruits by A. guerreronis was greater in the presence of predator cues and reduced in the presence of S. concavuscutum cues, but cues from injured conspecifics did not interfere in the infestation process. In addition, the cues also altered the walking parameters of A. guerreronis: it walked more in response to cues from predators and the heterospecific phytophage. Aceria guerreronis spent more time in activity in the treatments with clues than in the control treatment. These results suggest that A. guerreronis recognizes cues from predators and competitors and modifies its behaviour to increase its fitness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Érica C Calvet
- Departamento de Agronomia (Fitossanidade), Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Av. Dom Manuel de Medeiros s/n, Bairro Dois Irmãos, Recife, PE, 52171-900, Brazil.
| | - Debora B Lima
- Departamento de Agronomia (Fitossanidade), Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Av. Dom Manuel de Medeiros s/n, Bairro Dois Irmãos, Recife, PE, 52171-900, Brazil
| | - José W S Melo
- Departamento de Fitotecnia, Universidade Federal do Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
| | - Manoel G C Gondim
- Departamento de Agronomia (Fitossanidade), Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Av. Dom Manuel de Medeiros s/n, Bairro Dois Irmãos, Recife, PE, 52171-900, Brazil
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