Pricklier with the proper predator? Predator‐induced small‐scale changes of spinescence in Daphnia

Abstract

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Antipredator responses of three Daphnia species within the D. longispina species complex to two invertebrate predators

“…Despite this huge amount of research done during the last decades (Diel et al, 2020), new types of inducible defenses, particularly morphological defenses, in Daphnia continue to be discovered, including the alteration of tiny microstructures (Diel et al, 2021, Ritschar et al, 2020. According to Diel et al (2021), changes in an organism's microstructure might either be developmentally connected to more obvious changes in its features or represent independent defensive structures to fine-tune protection against a predator. The first reasoning would suggest that changes at the microstructural level are strongly related to the more significant induced changes that take place during development.…”

“…Nevertheless, most studies examining predator–prey interactions have been limited to investigating interactions between one prey and one predator species (Sperfeld et al., 2020 ; Tams et al., 2018 ; Weiss et al., 2015 ) and single‐induced traits. Even while there has been some research conducted on prey with multiple predators and traits (Diel et al., 2021 ; Herzog et al., 2016 ; Laforsch & Tollrian, 2004 ), there are still surprisingly few studies that concentrate on coexisting prey alongside their complete predator assemblage. This limited scope hinders a comprehensive understanding of the breadth of predator‐induced responses in the prey species that comprise natural ecological communities (Laforsch & Tollrian, 2004 ; Miner et al., 2005 ).…”

“…Daphnia exhibits inducible defenses against both vertebrate predators and invertebrate predators (Diel et al., 2020 ; Tollrian & Harvell, 1999 ). Most individual studies on the responses of Daphnia species have examined their defenses against Chaoborus (Beckerman et al., 2010 ; Carter et al., 2017 ; Hammill et al., 2008 ; Laforsch & Tollrian, 2004 ; Lind et al., 2015 ; Reger et al., 2018 ; Sperfeld et al., 2020 ; Wolinska et al., 2007 ), Notonecta (Diel et al., 2021 ; Herzog et al., 2016 ; Ritschar et al., 2020 ; Weiss et al., 2015 ), Triops (Diel et al., 2021 ; Herzog et al., 2016 ; Petrusek et al., 2009 ; Rabus et al., 2013 ; Ritschar et al., 2020 ), and fish (Adamczuk, 2009 ; Beckerman et al., 2010 ; Carter et al., 2017 ; Lind et al., 2015 ; Reger et al., 2018 ; Winder et al., 2004 ; Wojtal‐Frankiewicz et al., 2010 ).…”

“…Despite this huge amount of research done during the last decades (Diel et al., 2020 ), new types of inducible defenses, particularly morphological defenses, in Daphnia continue to be discovered, including the alteration of tiny microstructures (Diel et al., 2021 , Ritschar et al., 2020 ). According to Diel et al.…”

“…According to Diel et al. ( 2021 ), changes in an organism's microstructure might either be developmentally connected to more obvious changes in its features or represent independent defensive structures to fine‐tune protection against a predator. The first reasoning would suggest that changes at the microstructural level are strongly related to the more significant induced changes that take place during development.…”