Induced tolerance expressed as relaxed behavioural threat response in millimetre-sized aquatic organisms.

ABSTRACT: Natural selection shapes behaviour in all organisms, but this is difficult to study in small, millimetre-sized, organisms. With novel labelling and tracking techniques, based on nanotechnology, we here show how behaviour in zooplankton (Daphnia magna) is affected by size, morphology and previous exposure to detrimental ultraviolet radiation (UVR). All individuals responded with immediate downward swimming to UVR exposure, but when released from the threat they rapidly returned to the surface. Large individuals swam faster and generally travelled longer distances than small individuals. Interestingly, individuals previously exposed to UVR (during several generations) showed a more relaxed response to UVR and travelled shorter total distances than those that were naive to UVR, suggesting ind

SUBMITTER: Hylander S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4083784 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature