A1 Refereed original research article in a scientific journal
NECK SPINE PROTECTS DAPHNIA-PULEX FROM PREDATION BY CHAOBORUS, BUT INDIVIDUALS WITH LONGER TAIL SPINE ARE AT A GREATER RISK
Authors: REPKA S, WALLS M, KETOLA M
Publisher: OXFORD UNIV PRESS UNITED KINGDOM
Publication year: 1995
Journal:: Journal of Plankton Research
Journal name in source: JOURNAL OF PLANKTON RESEARCH
Journal acronym: J PLANKTON RES
Volume: 17
Issue: 2
First page : 393
Last page: 403
Number of pages: 11
ISSN: 0142-7873
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/plankt/17.2.393
Abstract
We tested the prey preference of Chaoborus sp. on Daphnia pulex with different defensive morphologies. The protective function of inducible morphological defences, such as neck spine and longer tail spine, was evaluated. Second instar D.pulex individuals of two clones differing in their strength of neck spine induction were offered as prey to both Chaoborus obscuripes and Chaoborus flavicans. We used logistic regression analysis to evaluate the effect of morphometry on the vulnerability of Daphnia. The presence of a neck spine and increased total length protected D.pulex from Chaoborus predation. However, individuals with a longer tail spine were more vulnerable to Chaoborus predation. Chaoborus obscuripes was able to eat daphnids with a neck spine due to the larger gape size of this chaoborid. The smaller species C.flavicans almost always ate prey with no neck spine.
We tested the prey preference of Chaoborus sp. on Daphnia pulex with different defensive morphologies. The protective function of inducible morphological defences, such as neck spine and longer tail spine, was evaluated. Second instar D.pulex individuals of two clones differing in their strength of neck spine induction were offered as prey to both Chaoborus obscuripes and Chaoborus flavicans. We used logistic regression analysis to evaluate the effect of morphometry on the vulnerability of Daphnia. The presence of a neck spine and increased total length protected D.pulex from Chaoborus predation. However, individuals with a longer tail spine were more vulnerable to Chaoborus predation. Chaoborus obscuripes was able to eat daphnids with a neck spine due to the larger gape size of this chaoborid. The smaller species C.flavicans almost always ate prey with no neck spine.
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