Behavioural Responses of Defended and Undefended Prey to Their Predator-A Case Study of Rotifera.

ABSTRACT: Predation is a strong species interaction causing severe harm or death to prey. Thus, prey species have evolved various defence strategies to minimize predation risk, which may be immediate (e.g., a change in behaviour) or transgenerational (morphological defence structures). We studied the behaviour of two strains of a rotiferan prey (Brachionus calyciflorus) that differ in their ability to develop morphological defences in response to their predator Asplanchna brightwellii. Using video analysis, we tested: (a) if two strains differ in their response to predator presence and predator cues when both are undefended; (b) whether defended individuals respond to live predators or their cues; and (c) if the morphological defence (large spines) per se has an effect on the sw

SUBMITTER: Parry V 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9404713 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature