Hidden defensive morphology in rotifers: benefits, costs, and fitness consequences.

ABSTRACT: To cope with predation, many prey species have developed inducible defenses in terms of morphology, behavior, and life history. Rotifers were the first model organisms used to evaluate the ecology and evolution of inducible defenses in aquatic ecosystems. Since the middle of last century, only visible morphological defenses, such as spine development, have been found and only in a few rotifer species. Given the development of ultrastructural defenses is taxonomically widespread in aquatic ecosystems, we hypothesize that rotifer prey, particularly small-sized species, can develop such inducible defenses. We evaluated morphological response of two common Brachionus herbivores (B. calyciflorus and B. angularis) to predatory rotifer Asplanchna brightwellii. Results confirmed existence of preda

SUBMITTER: Yin X 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5495802 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature