Threat-sensitive predator avoidance by slimy sculpins: understanding the importance of visual versus chemical information

2001 ◽  
Vol 79 (5) ◽  
pp. 867-873 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas P Chivers ◽  
Reehan S Mirza ◽  
Pamela J Bryer ◽  
Joseph M Kiesecker
Keyword(s):  
Field Experiment ◽  
Brook Trout ◽  
Predator Avoidance ◽  
Visual Cues ◽  
Laboratory Experiments ◽  
Chemical Cues ◽  
Salvelinus Fontinalis ◽  
Chemical Information ◽  
Cottus Cognatus ◽  
Predation Threat

The supposition that prey animals assess and behave flexibly in response to different degrees of predation threat is known as the threat-sensitive predator avoidance hypothesis. We completed a series of field and laboratory experiments to examine whether slimy sculpins (Cottus cognatus) exhibit threat-sensitive predator avoidance when exposed to sympatric predatory brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis). In a field experiment we caged small and large trout in similar habitats and found that sculpins avoided areas containing trout that were large enough to pose a threat to them, but did not avoid areas containing trout that were small and hence not a threat. In a series of laboratory experiments we found that sculpins showed threat-sensitive predator avoidance when they could assess the predator visually. However, when only chemical cues from the predator were presented, sculpins responded to the predator regardless of its size. Chemical cues seem to function to warn the sculpin that the predator is in the vicinity, but visual cues are needed in order to accurately assess the risk posed by the predator.

Larval development of the parasitic copepod Salmincola edwardsii on brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis)

1994 ◽  
Vol 72 (1) ◽  
pp. 154-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
David C. Conley ◽  
Mark A. Curtis
Keyword(s):  
Larval Development ◽  
Brook Trout ◽  
Laboratory Experiments ◽  
Salvelinus Fontinalis ◽  
Infection Intensity ◽  
Parasitic Copepod ◽  
Developmental Time ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Pectoral Fins ◽  
Adult Females

We conducted laboratory experiments to determine the developmental time from larva to adult of the parasitic copepod Salmincola edwardsii on brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) at 13 °C. Healthy fingerlings were exposed to large doses of recently hatched copepodids for 12 h. Three infected fingerlings were sacrificed at 12-h intervals until day 6 and then at 24-h intervals until day 20 postexposure. The gills, opercula, and pectoral fins were the major sites of attachment. Adult males were detected as early as day 3 and as late as day 8 postexposure, with the greatest number occurring about day 5. Adult males may live for up to 3 days at 13 °C. Adult females were detected as early as day 11 postexposure but not consistently until day 13, indicating that permanent bulla attachment took place between 11 and 16 days postexposure. Infection intensity declined rapidly until day 9 postexposure then less quickly for the rest of the experiment.

Responses of the fish ectoparasite Salmincola edwardsii (Copepoda) to stimulation, and their implication for host-finding

Parasitology ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 100 (3) ◽  
pp. 417-421 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Poulin ◽  
M. A. Curtis ◽  
M. E. Rau
Keyword(s):  
Shock Waves ◽  
Mechanical Stimulation ◽  
Strong Evidence ◽  
Brook Trout ◽  
Laboratory Experiments ◽  
Salvelinus Fontinalis ◽  
Selective Pressure ◽  
Host Finding ◽  
And Shock Waves ◽  
Energy Stores

SUMMARYThe short-lived infective copepodid stages of the copepod Salmincola edwardsii, ectoparasitic on brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis, are under strong selective pressure to evolve efficient host-finding mechanisms. In laboratory experiments, we quantified the effects of visual and mechanical stimulation on the activity of the copepodids. We found that shadows passing above the copepodids and shock waves passing through the water generated marked increases in the rate and length of upward swimming bursts, which resulted in more time spent suspended in the water column and greater distances travelled. However, we found no strong evidence for a relationship between the magnitude of the copepodids' response and the intensity of stimulation. Although these responses are not host-specific, they allow the parasites to conserve their limited energy stores by increasing their host-finding activity only when potential hosts are nearby.

Some Factors Regulating Piscivory of Brook Trout, Salvelinus fontinalis, in Lakes of the Laurentian Shield

1991 ◽  
Vol 48 (9) ◽  
pp. 1735-1743 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pierre East ◽  
Pierre Magnan
Keyword(s):  
Brook Trout ◽  
Laboratory Experiments ◽  
Salvelinus Fontinalis ◽  
The Other ◽  
Prey Fish ◽  
Significant Preference ◽  
Prey Refuge ◽  
Semotilus Atromaculatus ◽  
Foraging Pattern ◽  
Creek Chub

A survey of 13 lakes containing brook trout, Salvelinus fontinalis, and northern redbelly dace, Phoxinus eos, five lakes containing trout and creek chub, Semotilus atromaculatus, and six lakes containing trout, dace, and chub indicated that prey-fish could represent up to 30% of trout diet by weight. We observed that trout preyed almost exclusively on dace, predation increased with trout size, predation on dace was significantly higher in the Salvelinus-Phoxinus-Semotilus association than in the Salvelinus-Phoxinus association even though trout were significantly smaller in the former than in the latter association, and predation in the Salvelinus-Phoxinus-Semotilus association was higher in two lakes and nearly always absent in the other four. Laboratory experiments indicated that small trout (150–250 mm total length (TL)) preferred small prey-fish (40–60 mm TL), large trout (250–380 mm TL) showed no significant preference with regard to the size of prey-fish (up to 170 mm TL), trout of both size classes preferred dace when dace and chub were present, presence of refuge (Cassandra calyculata) for prey-fish significantly reduced the number of attacks and captures upon dace, and large trout switched from an active to a sit-and-wait foraging pattern when a prey refuge was present.

Possible Role of the Posterior Lateral Line in Obstacle Entrainment by Brook Trout (Salvelinus fontinalis)

1975 ◽  
Vol 32 (12) ◽  
pp. 2441-2446 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. M. Sutterlin ◽  
Susan Waddy
Keyword(s):  
Lateral Line ◽  
Brook Trout ◽  
Visual Cues ◽  
Salvelinus Fontinalis ◽  
Lateral Line System ◽  
Line System ◽  
Posterior Lateral Line ◽  
Minimum Expenditure ◽  
Lateral Bias

Observations of position holding by brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) in a stream channel indicate that they choose specific locations probably related to flow patterns around bottom obstructions. Bilateral denervation of the posterior lateral line system of trout has no effect on their ability to entrain on objects placed in flowing water, providing sufficient visual cues are available. Unilateral ablation resulted in a lateral bias in swimming position relative to the flow obstruction even when visual cues were present. Bilateral denervation of the posterior line system reduced the degree to which trout could entrain on objects when visual cues were omitted. It is suggested that in stream-dwelling fish, such as the brook trout, the lateral line may serve as a detector of flow or pressure discontinuities, enabling the fish to maintain position with minimum expenditure of energy.

Effects of temperature fluctuations and photoperiod on hatching in the parasitic copepod Salmincola edwardsii

1990 ◽  
Vol 68 (6) ◽  
pp. 1330-1332 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Poulin ◽  
David C. Conley ◽  
Mark A. Curtis
Keyword(s):  
Brook Trout ◽  
Laboratory Experiments ◽  
Salvelinus Fontinalis ◽  
Temperature Fluctuations ◽  
Parasitic Copepod ◽  
The Other ◽  
Hatching Rate ◽  
Experimental Conditions ◽  
Effects Of Temperature ◽  
Daily Changes

In laboratory experiments, we studied the effects of the day–night cycle (photoperiod and temperature fluctuations) on the initiation of hatching and hatching rate in egg sacs of the copepod Salmincola edwardsii, ectoparasitic on brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis). Pairs of egg sacs were removed from adult female copepods; for each pair, one sac was placed under experimental conditions and the other one was kept under constant conditions, providing an ideal control. Photoperiod had no significant effect on the initiation of hatching or hatching rate. The observed effects of temperature fluctuations were associated with water temperature itself, and appeared independent of whether it was fluctuating or constant. We conclude that hatching in S. edwardsii is not rhythmical but spontaneous, showing no relationship with daily changes in host vulnerability.

scholarly journals Naïve Poison Frog tadpoles use bi-modal cues to avoid insect predators but not heterospecific predatory tadpoles

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Birgit Szabo ◽  
Rosanna Mangione ◽  
Matthias Rath ◽  
Andrius Pašukonis ◽  
Stephan A. Reber ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Predator Avoidance ◽  
Visual Cues ◽  
Chemical Information ◽  
Water Control ◽  
Poison Frog ◽  
Appropriate Behavior ◽  
Frog Tadpoles ◽  
Allobates Femoralis ◽  
Insect Predators ◽  
Individual Design

For animals to survive until reproduction, it is crucial that juveniles successfully detect potential predators and respond with appropriate behavior. The recognition of cues originating from predators can be innate or learned. Cues of various modalities might be used alone or in multi-modal combinations to detect and distinguish predators but studies investigating multi-modal integration in predator avoidance are scarce. Here, we used wild, naive tadpoles of the Neotropical Poison Frog Allobates femoralis (Boulenger, 1884) to test their reaction to cues with two modalities from two different sympatrically occurring potential predators: heterospecific predatory Dendrobates tinctorius tadpoles and dragonfly larvae. We presented A. femoralis tadpoles with olfactory or visual cues, or a combination of both and compared their reaction to a water-control in a between-individual design. In our trials, A. femoralis tadpoles reacted to multimodal stimuli (a combination of visual and chemical information) originating from dragonfly larvae with avoidance but showed no reaction to uni-modal cues or cues from heterospecific tadpoles. In addition, visual cues from conspecifics increased swimming activity while cues from predators had no effect on tadpole activity. Our results show that A. femoralis tadpoles can innately recognize some predators and likely need both visual and chemical information to effectively avoid them. This is the first study looking at anti-predator behavior in Poison Frog tadpoles. We discuss how parental care might influence the expression of predator avoidance responses in tadpoles.

Effects of temperature and photoperiod on the duration of hatching, swimming, and copepodid survival of the parasitic copepod Salmincola edwardsii

1993 ◽  
Vol 71 (5) ◽  
pp. 972-976 ◽  
Author(s):  
David C. Conley ◽  
Mark A. Curtis
Keyword(s):  
Water Temperature ◽  
Brook Trout ◽  
Laboratory Experiments ◽  
Hatching Success ◽  
Salvelinus Fontinalis ◽  
Parasitic Copepod ◽  
Swimming Activity ◽  
The Other ◽  
Egg Hatching ◽  
Effects Of Temperature

We conducted laboratory experiments to test whether various temperature and photoperiod regimes had any effect on the duration of egg hatching, swimming activity, and copepodid survival in the parasitic copepod Salmincola edwardsii, commonly found on brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis). Pairs of egg sacs were removed from adult female copepods; one of each pair was exposed to a different photoperiod than the other, at the same temperature. Experiments were conducted at 8, 12, 16, and 20 °C. Temperature had a significant effect on the duration of copepodid swimming activity and survival, and the onset of egg sac hatching was directly related to increasing water temperature. However, hatching duration and hatching success were not affected by temperature over the range tested. Photoperiod had no effect on hatching duration, hatching success, swimming activity, or copepodid survival. Our findings indicate that S. edwardsii copepodids can swim and survive for more than 2 weeks; much longer than the 2 days customarily reported in the literature. This must be accounted for in the development of strategies to control transmission.

scholarly journals Effects of parasites upon non-host predator avoidance behaviour in native and invasive gammarids

Parasitology ◽  
2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Sajad Farahani ◽  
Per J. Palsbøll ◽  
Ido Pen ◽  
Jan Komdeur
Keyword(s):  
Invasive Species ◽  
Definitive Host ◽  
Predator Avoidance ◽  
Gasterosteus Aculeatus ◽  
Chemical Cues ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Fundamental Question ◽  
Intermediate Hosts ◽  
Gammarus Fossarum ◽  
Acanthocephalan Parasite

Abstract The acanthocephalan parasite, Polymorphus minutus, manipulates its intermediate hosts' (gammarids) behaviour, presumably to facilitate its transmission to the definitive hosts. A fundamental question is whether this capability has evolved to target gammarids in general, or specifically sympatric gammarids. We assessed the responses to chemical cues from a non-host predator (the three-spined sticklebacks Gasterosteus aculeatus) in infected and non-infected gammarids; two native (Gammarus pulex and Gammarus fossarum), and one invasive (Echinogammarus berilloni) species, all sampled in the Paderborn Plateau (Germany). The level of predator avoidance was assessed by subjecting gammarids to choice experiments with the presence or absence of predator chemical cues. We did not detect any behavioural differences between uninfected and infected G. pulex and E. berilloni, but an elevated degree of predator avoidance in infected G. fossarum. Avoiding non-host predators may ultimately increase the probability of P. minutus' of predation by the definitive host. Our results suggested that P. minutus' ability to alter the host's behaviour may have evolved to specifically target sympatric gammarid host species. Uninfected gammarids did not appear to avoid the non-host predator chemical cues. Overall the results also opened the possibility that parasites may play a critical role in the success or failure of invasive species.

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