Changes in feeding behaviour of the larvae of the damselfly <i>Enallagma cyathigerum</i> in response to stimuli from predators

Koperski, Paweł

doi:10.1046/j.1365-2311.1997.00058.x

Cited by 46 publications

(36 citation statements)

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“…Damselflies have been shown to exhibit predator avoidance behaviour by hiding behind stems (Heads 1985), reducing their movements in the presence of fish predators (Koperski 1997), and even being able to assess the relative risk of predation conferred by different macrophyte species and modify their behaviour accordingly (Dionne et al 1990). In the Eleocharis and Triglochin analogues, damselflies perched on a stem or leaf (respectively) would move to the other side when a pygmy perch was nearby, thus they were hidden but still able to capture prey.…”

Section: Multiple Predator Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Habitat structural complexity mediates the foraging success of multiple predator species

2004

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We investigated the role of freshwater macrophytes as refuge by testing the hypothesis that predators capture fewer prey in more dense and structurally complex habitats. We also tested the hypothesis that habitat structure not only affects the prey-capture success of a single predator in isolation, but also the effectiveness of two predators combined, particularly if it mediates interactions between the predators. We conducted a fully crossed four-factorial laboratory experiment using artificial plants to determine the separate quantitative (density) and qualitative (shape) components of macrophyte structure on the prey-capture success of a predatory damselfly, Ischnura heterosticta tasmanica, and the southern pygmy perch, Nannoperca australis. Contrary to our expectations, macrophyte density had no effect on the prey-capture success of either predator, but both predators were significantly less effective in the structurally complex Myriophyllum analogue than in the structurally simpler Triglochin and Eleocharis analogues. Furthermore, the greater structural complexity of Myriophyllum amplified the impact of the negative interaction between the predators on prey numbers; the habitat use by damselfly larvae in response to the presence of southern pygmy perch meant they captured less prey in Myriophyllum. These results demonstrate habitat structure can influence multiple predator effects, and support the mechanism of increased prey refuge in more structurally complex macrophytes.

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Section: Multiple Predator Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Habitat structural complexity mediates the foraging success of multiple predator species

2004

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“…The bottom of the cup consisted of ®ne netting (mesh size 250 lm). This allowed the larvae to see and smell the Notonecta; damsel¯y larvae respond to both visual and chemical stimuli from predators (Koperski 1997;Wisenden et al 1997). To increase the spread of the chemical cues each box was lifted and gently lowered every hour.…”

Section: Mobility and Hunting Successmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of lamellae autotomy on survival and foraging success of the damselfly Lestes sponsa (Odonata: Lestidae)

Stoks¹

1998

Oecologia

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Damselfly larvae can autotomize their caudal lamellae to escape predation. Costs of caudal lamellae autotomy were investigated by directly manipulating lamellae condition of Lestes sponsa in laboratory experiments. Larvae without lamellae had higher predation mortality in the presence of Notonecta. Both lamellae loss and larval density increased the probability of being cannibalized. The results suggest that the increased vulnerability after lamellae loss resulted from a reduced escape performance. Larvae were less mobile after lamellae loss or in the presence of a predator, but the decrease was no longer significant when both factors were combined. This indicates that larvae compensate for the increased predation risk with a fixed response. Both lamellae loss and predator presence reduced hunting success, but the decrease after lamellae loss was only significant in the absence of a predator. The fitness consequences of these effects for both the larval and adult stages are discussed. In general, the data strongly suggest that lamellae autotomy plays a role in population regulation of damselflies.

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“…Jeffries (1990), for example, observed that the larvae of E. cyathigerum moved less when a larva of Aeshna juncea was present, but only in the absence of food. When both invertebrate predators (A. juncea, Notonecta glauca) and prey are present, feeding and movement rates of the larvae are not or only weakly suppressed (Chowdhury & Corbet, 1988;Jeffries, 1990;Koperski, 1997). An exception are the chemical cues produced by Ranatra linearis, which strongly reduce larval feeding rates (Koperski, 1997).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Most damselfly larvae are classified as climbers, spending much of their larval life among macrophytes (Merritt & Cummins, 1984). They are generalist predators, which are capable of switching between a sit-and wait feeding mode to catch mobile prey and active movement to catch slowly moving or sedentary prey (Koperski, 1997;Corbet, 1999). Odonata seem to be important in structuring aquatic communities (Thorp & Cothran, 1984) since they can be abundant in lentic ecosystems and are often the numerically dominant predators of macro-invertebrates in beds of macrophytes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Preference of larvae of Enallagma cyathigerum (Odonata: Coenagrionidae) for habitats of varying structural complexity

Verdonschot¹,

Peeters²

2012

Eur. J. Entomol.

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Abstract. In macrophyte-rich lentic ecosystems, higher numbers of damselfly larvae occur in areas where there is structurally complex vegetation than in those where the plant architecture is relatively simple. Biotic interactions rather than morphological constraints are considered to underlie this pattern. We investigated whether the preference of the larvae of the damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum for a particular habitat was retained in absence of prey, predators and/or conspecifics. A series of laboratory choice experiments was conducted in which combinations of sediment and artificial plants differing in structural complexity were offered simultaneously to the larvae. Larvae preferred patches with structurally complex vegetation over patches with simply structured vegetation or lacking vegetation. Patches with simply structured vegetation were preferred over those with bare sediment, but the number of larvae showing a clear choice, which is regarded as an indication of the strength of the preference for a particular habitat, was relatively low compared to the number of individuals responding when complex vegetation was present. Based on the results presented, we conclude that the preference of E. cyathigerum larvae for structurally complex vegetation is independent of the presence of predators, prey or competitors. This suggests that this behaviour of the larvae is either learned or an innate response.

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Changes in feeding behaviour of the larvae of the damselfly Enallagma cyathigerum in response to stimuli from predators

Cited by 46 publications

References 0 publications

Habitat structural complexity mediates the foraging success of multiple predator species

Habitat structural complexity mediates the foraging success of multiple predator species

Effect of lamellae autotomy on survival and foraging success of the damselfly Lestes sponsa (Odonata: Lestidae)

Preference of larvae of Enallagma cyathigerum (Odonata: Coenagrionidae) for habitats of varying structural complexity

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