Chemical cannibalistic cues make damselfly larvae hide rather than hunt

Scientific Reports · 5 authors, 1 centre

AI SUMMARY

FIDELITY 100%

POPULATIONIschnura elegans damselfly larvae

INTERVENTIONExposure to conspecific chemical cues (kairomones at low/high density, with or without alarm signal)

COMPARISONControl larvae not exposed to conspecific chemical cues

This summary was generated by AI from a single paper. It has not been reviewed by a clinician and is not clinical advice. Verify against the source before acting on it.

AGENT 01 · STRUCTURED SUMMARY

TRACE TO SOURCE

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TL;DR

Behavioral and respiratory experiments with Ischnura elegans larvae found that exposure to conspecific kairomones and alarm signals reduced activity and shifted respiratory-related behavior, indicating anti-predator defense rather than increased cannibalistic foraging.

Full summary

566 CHARS

This preclinical study exposed Ischnura elegans larvae to conspecific chemical cues (kairomones at two densities and alarm signal combinations) and measured behavior and respiration. Larvae exposed to kairomones spent more time immobile and used refuge more than controls, with effects strongest within the first 15 minutes. High-density kairomone plus alarm signal treatment produced the strongest avoidance, with larvae hunting only from refuge and attacking only when success was likely. Foraging attacks and Daphnia consumption were reduced relative to controls.

PICO

PPOPULATION

Ischnura elegans damselfly larvae

IINTERVENTION

Exposure to conspecific chemical cues (kairomones at low/high density, with or without alarm signal)

OOUTCOME

Locomotor activity, refuge use, foraging attacks, prey consumption, and oxygen consumption patterns

STUDY TYPE

other

SPECIALTY

preclinical research

SUMMARISED BY

AI pipeline

FIDELITY CHECK

100% · A

ORIGINAL PAPER

PMC10442433

Chemical cannibalistic cues make damselfly larvae hide rather than hunt

Scientific Reports

READ THE FULL PAPER

ABSTRACT

Adopting cannibalism substantially affects individual fitness, and recognizing the presence of other cannibals provides additional benefits such as the opportunity to prepare for hunting or defense. This recognition can be facilitated by perceiving conspecific chemical cues. Their role in cannibalistic interactions is less studied than in interspecific predation and it is unclear whether these cues inform individuals of danger or of food availability. Interpretation of these cues is crucial to balance the costs and benefits of anti-predator and feeding strategies, which can directly influence individual fitness. In this study we aimed to test whether damselfly larvae shift towards bolder and more exploratory (cannibalistic) behavior, or become more careful to avoid potential cannibals (as prey) in response to such cues. We conducted behavioral and respiratory experiments with Ischnura elegans larvae to investigate their response to chemical cues from older and larger conspecific larvae. We found that I. elegans larvae decrease their activity and shift their respiratory-related behavior, indicating activation of anti-predator defense mechanisms in response to conspecific chemical cues. Our findings indicate that individuals exposed to conspecific chemical cues balance catching prey with staying safe.

CITATION EXPORT

Monika Sysiak, Barbara Pietrzak, Matylda Kubiak et al.. Chemical cannibalistic cues make damselfly larvae hide rather than hunt. Scientific Reports. (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-40732-2

AUTHORS

5 · 1 CENTRES

Monika Sysiak, Barbara Pietrzak, Matylda Kubiak, Anna Bednarska, Andrzej Mikulski

https://ror.org/039bjqg32grid.12847.380000 0004 1937 1290Department of Hydrobiology, Institute of Functional Biology and Ecology, Faculty of Biology, University of Warsaw, Żwirki i Wigury 101, 02-089 Warsaw, Poland