Facing the Green Threat: A Water Flea’s Defenses against a Carnivorous Plant

International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Linda C. Weiss¹  Sebastian Kruppert¹  Ralph Tollrian¹  Martin Horstmann¹  Elena Konopka¹  Nadja Kubitza¹  Anna S. Westermeier²  Simon Poppinga²  Thomas Speck² 

[1] Department of Animal Ecology, Evolution & Biodiversity, Ruhr-University Bochum, 44780 Bochum, Germany;Plant Biomechanics Group, Botanic Garden, University of Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany;

关键词: Daphnia;    inducible defenses;    carnivorous plant;   

DOI  :  10.3390/ijms23126474

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

Every ecosystem shows multiple levels of species interactions, which are often difficult to isolate and to classify regarding their specific nature. For most of the observed interactions, it comes down to either competition or consumption. The modes of consumption are various and defined by the nature of the consumed organism, e.g., carnivory, herbivory, as well as the extent of the consumption, e.g., grazing, parasitism. While the majority of consumers are animals, carnivorous plants can also pose a threat to arthropods. Water fleas of the family Daphniidae are keystone species in many lentic ecosystems. As most abundant filter feeders, they link the primary production to higher trophic levels. As a response to the high predatory pressures, water fleas have evolved various inducible defenses against animal predators. Here we show the first example, to our knowledge, in Ceriodaphnia dubia of such inducible defenses of an animal against a coexisting plant predator, i.e., the carnivorous bladderwort (Utricularia x neglecta Lehm, Lentibulariaceae). When the bladderwort is present, C. dubia shows changes in morphology, life history and behavior. While the morphological and behavioral adaptations improve C. dubia’s survival rate in the presence of this predator, the life-history parameters likely reflect trade-offs for the defense.

【 授权许可】

Unknown