Pond drying cues promote cannibalism in larval <i>Anax junius</i> dragonflies

Gillespie, Catherine M.; Mumme, Ronald L.; Wissinger, Scott A.

doi:10.1086/710110

Cited by 5 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…Despite this, high-latitude larvae gained more energy storage and protein content than central-latitude larvae when grown in the time constrained high-latitude thermo-photoperiod. We suggest that these higher levels could be due to a higher cannibalism rate among northern larvae, especially under time constrained conditions, as shown in the current experiment and previous studies on the damselfly (Sniegula et al 2017a) and other insects (Lund et al 2016, Gillespie et al 2020. These results also indicate no expected costs of fast development and growth in terms of a reduced fat and protein contents at emergence (Wieser 1994).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 83%

Size‐mediated priority effects are trait‐dependent and consistent across latitudes in a damselfly

Raczyński

Stoks

Johansson

et al. 2021

Oikos

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Variation in hatching time (phenology) might cause size differences within populations resulting in size-mediated priority effects (SMPEs) shaping intraspecific interactions. These phenology-driven effects potentially can be strengthened by seasonal time constraints caused by a short growth season, and depend on latitude. Here the single and combined effects of phenology and latitude-associated time constraints on SMPEs in larvae of an aquatic insect, the damselfly Lestes sponsa, are studied. We did so by rearing larvae in groups of 16 individuals with different phenology (hatching date) thereby imposing strong intraspecific competition, resulting in cannibalism. We thereby manipulated in a fully crossed way time constraints (combination of temperature and photoperiod: thermo-photoperiod) in larvae from low-latitude and more time constrained high-latitude populations, and examined effects on life history (survival, development, growth) and physiology (fat and protein contents, and phenoloxidase activity as a measure of immune function). Phenology, time constraints and latitude of origin had strong effects on life history, but only the time constraint affected the physiology. We detected a SMPE for survival that, however, was not stronger under time constraints and was consistent in strength between latitudes. Phenology and time constraints interacted for development and growth in a direction suggesting adaptive responses to time constraints but these life history traits did not show SMPEs. We provided important insights in the study of SMPEs thereby showing these to be trait-dependent and not more pronounced under experimentally manipulated or latitude-associated time constraints. Our study thereby makes an important addition to geographic variation in SMPEs, a largely neglected topic.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 83%

Size‐mediated priority effects are trait‐dependent and consistent across latitudes in a damselfly

Raczyński

Stoks

Johansson

et al. 2021

Oikos

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“…Here, I showed that cannibalism among predators can reduce predation on small prey species but increase predation on large prey species simultaneously. Previous studies showed that the occurrence and strength of cannibalism among predators are highly dependent on surrounding environmental conditions, including the presence and absence of top predators, ambient temperature, and changes in water level (Crumrine, 2010b; Gillespie et al, 2020; Kishida, 2011; Sniegula et al, 2019). All this considered, cannibalism among predators could play a pivotal role in establishing links between biotic and abiotic factors and predator's effects on the prey community and resultant cascading effects on lower trophic levels.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Predator cannibalism can shift prey community composition toward dominance by small prey species

Takatsu

2022

Ecology and Evolution

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Cannibalism among predators is a key intraspecific interaction affecting their density and foraging behavior, eventually modifying the strength of predation on heterospecific prey. Interestingly, previous studies showed that cannibalism among predators can increase or reduce predation on heterospecific prey; however, we know less about the factors that lead to these outcomes. Using a simple pond community consisting of Hynobius retardatus salamander larvae and their associated prey, I report empirical evidence that cannibalism among predators can increase predation on large heterospecific prey but reduce that on small heterospecific prey. In a field‐enclosure experiment in which I manipulated the occurrence of salamander cannibalism, I found that salamander cannibalism increased predation on frog tadpoles but reduced that on aquatic insects simultaneously. The contrasting effects are most likely to be explained by prey body size. In the study system, frog tadpoles were too large for non‐cannibal salamanders to consume, while aquatic insects were within the non‐cannibals’ consumable prey size range. However, when cannibalism occurred, a few individuals that succeeded in cannibalizing reached large enough size to consume frog tadpoles. Consequently, although cannibalism among salamanders reduced their density, salamander cannibalism increased predation on large prey frog tadpoles. Meanwhile, salamander cannibalism reduced predation on small prey aquatic insects probably because of a density reduction of non‐cannibals primarily consuming aquatic insects. Body size is often correlated with various ecological traits, for instance, diet width, consumption, and excretion rates, and is thus considered a good indicator of species’ effects on ecosystem function. All this considered, cannibalism among predators could eventually affect ecosystem function by shifting the size composition of the prey community.

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“…One thing we do know is that for cannibalism to contribute to the regulation of animal population densities, it must be a density‐dependent process, generating increasing per‐capita mortality as densities rise. A large body of empirical evidence, including both observational and experimental studies, has demonstrated that this is generally true: per‐capita mortality rates from cannibalism rise, in many cases very strongly, with rising population density (Baskauf, 2003; Buddle et al, 2003; Elliott, 2004; Fincke, 1994; Fisher et al, 2021; Fox, 1975; Gillespie et al, 2020; Grosholz et al, 2021; Hannesson, 2018; Hopper et al, 1996; Houghton et al, 2017; Klotz & Wright, 2020; Moksnes, 2004; Oraze & Grigarick, 1989; Orr et al, 1990; Persson et al, 2003; Persson & Elliott, 2013; Polis, 1981; Strauss et al, 2016; Van Buskirk, 1989; Wagner & Wise, 1996; Wildy et al, 2001; Wissinger et al, 2010). These studies have, furthermore, demonstrated that there are multiple pathways through which cannibalism emerges as a density‐dependent process.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Pathways to the density‐dependent expression of cannibalism, and consequences for regulated population dynamics

Rosenheim

Schreiber

2022

Ecology

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Cannibalism, once viewed as a rare or aberrant behavior, is now recognized to be widespread and to contribute broadly to the self-regulation of many populations. Cannibalism can produce endogenous negative feedback on population growth because it is expressed as a conditional behavior, responding to the deteriorating ecological conditions that flow, directly or indirectly, from increasing densities of conspecifics. Thus, cannibalism emerges as a strongly density-dependent source of mortality. In this synthesis, we review recent research that has revealed a rich diversity of pathways through which rising density elicits increased cannibalism, including both factors that (a) elevate the rate of dangerous encounters between conspecifics and (b) enhance the likelihood that such encounters will lead to successful cannibalistic attacks. These pathways include both features of the autecology of cannibal populations and features of interactions with other species, including food resources and pathogens. Using mathematical models, we explore the consequences of including density-dependent cannibal attack rates on population dynamics. The conditional expression of cannibalism generally enhances stability and population regulation in single-species models but also may increase opportunities for alternative states and prey population escape from control by cannibalistic predators.

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Pond drying cues promote cannibalism in larval Anax junius dragonflies

Cited by 5 publications

References 31 publications

Size‐mediated priority effects are trait‐dependent and consistent across latitudes in a damselfly

Size‐mediated priority effects are trait‐dependent and consistent across latitudes in a damselfly

Predator cannibalism can shift prey community composition toward dominance by small prey species

Pathways to the density‐dependent expression of cannibalism, and consequences for regulated population dynamics

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