Phenotypic plasticity in oysters (<i>Crassostrea virginica</i>) mediated by chemical signals from predators and injured prey

Scherer, Avery E.; Lunt, Jessica; Draper, Alex M.; Smee, Delbert L.

doi:10.1111/ivb.12120

Cited by 28 publications

(34 citation statements)

References 71 publications

(161 reference statements)

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“…In addition, the strength of predatory NCEs has been demonstrated to increase when predators feed and decrease when they fast (Scherer et al. ). Because caged toadfish in our experiment were fed every 3 d throughout the whole experiment, the cues in our experiment were more likely to be pulsed, not pressed.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nonconsumptive effects of a predator weaken then rebound over time

Kimbro

Grabowski

Hughes

et al. 2017

Ecology

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Predators can influence prey traits and behavior (nonconsumptive effects [NCEs]), often with cascading effects for basal resources and ecosystem function. But critiques of NCE experiments suggest that their duration and design produce results that describe the potential importance of NCEs rather than their actual importance. In light of these critiques, we re-evaluated a toadfish (predator), crab (prey), and oyster (resource) NCE-mediated trophic cascade. In a 4-month field experiment, we varied toadfish cue (NCE) and crab density (approximating variation in predator consumptive effects, CE). Toadfish initially benefitted oyster survival by causing crabs to reduce consumption. But this NCE weakened over time (possibly due to prey hunger), so that after 2 months, crab density (CE) dictated oyster survivorship, regardless of cue. However, the NCE ultimately re-emerged on reefs with a toadfish cue, increasing oyster survivorship. At no point did the effect of toadfish cue on mud crab foraging behavior alter oyster population growth or sediment organic matter on the reef, which is a measure of benthic-pelagic coupling. Instead, both decreased with increasing crab density. Thus, within a system shown to exhibit strong NCEs in short-term experiments (days) our study supported predictions from theoretical models: (a) within the generation of individual prey, the relative influence of NCEs appears to cycle over longer time periods (months); and (b) predator CEs, not NCEs, drive longer-term resource dynamics and ecosystem function. Thus, our study implies that the impacts of removing top predators via activities such as hunting and overfishing will cascade to basal resources and ecosystem properties primarily through density-mediated interactions.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nonconsumptive effects of a predator weaken then rebound over time

Kimbro

Grabowski

Hughes

et al. 2017

Ecology

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“…Blue mussels ( Mytilus edulis ), a more sessile bivalve, possess inducible defences in the presence of predators (Commito, Gownaris, Haulsee, Coleman, & Beal, ; Côté & Jelnikar, ), and can trigger different responses, which are specific for the attack strategies of different predatory species (Freeman, ). Oysters ( Crassostrea virginica ) can detect chemical cues from both predators and injured conspecifics, and grow stronger shells as a result (Scherer, Lunt, Draper, & Smee, ). However, this response is enhanced following encounter with predatory cues.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Giant clams discriminate threats along a risk gradient and display varying habituation rates to different stimuli

et al. 2019

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It is often beneficial for animals to discriminate between different threats and to habituate to repeated exposures of benign stimuli. While much is known about risk perception in vertebrates and some invertebrates, risk perception in marine invertebrates is less extensively studied. One method to study risk perception is to habituate animals to a series of exposures to one stimulus, and then present a novel stimulus to test if it transfers habituation. Transfer of habituation is seen as a continued decrease in response while lack of transfer is seen either by having a similar or greater magnitude response. We asked whether giant clams (Tridacna maxima) discriminate between biologically relevant types of threats along a risk gradient. Giant clams retract their mantle and close their shell upon detecting a threat. While closed, they neither feed nor photosynthesize, and prior work has shown that the cost of being closed increases as the duration of their response increases. We recorded a clam's latency to emerge after simulated threats chosen to represent a risk gradient: exposure to a small shading event, a medium shading event, a large shading event (chosen to simulate fish swimming above them), tapping on their shell and touching their mantle (chosen to simulate different degrees of direct attack). Although these stimuli are initially perceived as threatening, we expected clams to habituate to them because they are ultimately non‐damaging and it would be costly for clams to remain closed for extended periods of time when there is no threat present. Clams had different initial latencies to emerge and different habituation rates to these treatments, and they did not transfer habituation to higher risk stimuli and to some lower risk stimuli. These results suggest that clams discriminated between these stimuli along a risk gradient and the lack of habituation transfer shows that the new stimulus was perceived as a potential threat. This study demonstrates that sessile bivalves can discern between levels of predatory threat. These photosynthetic clams may benefit from being able to categorize predator cues for efficient energy allocation.

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“…These types of inducible defenses are appropriate when defense production is costly, predator presence is temporally variable, and prey can reliably detect and react to predators to minimize their risk of being consumed (Cronin 2001). Inducible defenses in response to predation risk are effective and are well known from many different taxa including tadpoles (Relyea 2002, Schoeppner andRelyea 2009), snails (Freeman andHamer 2009, Large andSmee 2013), corals (Gochfeld 2004), and bivalves (Leonard et al 1999, Nakaoka 2000, Scherer et al 2016.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Oysters strengthen their shells in response to both crustacean (Newell et al 2007) and gastropod predators (Lord and Whitlatch 2012), which can reduce their likelihood of being consumed (Robinson et al 2014). Oysters respond to chemical exudates from injured con-and hetero-specifics as well as predator exudates by building thicker shells and altering the composition of shells (Scherer et al 2016). Bivalves, including oysters, may increase the addition of calcium carbonate to make shells larger, add protein to their shells to increase its strength, or both (Currey and Taylor 1974, Frieder et al 2016, Scherer et al 2018.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%