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1.
Integr Zool ; 2024 Sep 01.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39219011

RESUMEN

The flow direction forms a west-east nutrient gradient in Lake Balaton and separates two basins with different food conditions indicated by the annual mean of water chlorophyll-a concentration. Trends of protein and carbohydrate contents of the invasive quagga mussel decline along the longitudinal coordinates, whereas lipids increase in mussels living between the two basins under moderate food conditions. Lipid accumulation might rescue the mussels when carbohydrate stores deplete.

2.
Sci Total Environ ; 942: 173700, 2024 Sep 10.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38844235

RESUMEN

Byssate bivalves are ecosystem engineers with world-wide impact on aquatic communities through habitat forming and biofouling of hard-shelled organisms. In fresh waters, they are represented by invasive Ponto-Caspian dreissenid mussels spreading throughout Europe and North America. They negatively affect globally threatened unionid mussels by fouling, which deteriorates their condition and survival. The appearance of quagga mussels (D. rostriformis bugensis, QM) in areas occupied by zebra mussels (Dreissena polymorpha, ZM) usually has led to the replacement of ZM by QM. We combined long-term field survey (Lake Balaton, Hungary) and experimental data to check differences in fouling of unionid mussels (Unio tumidus and Sinanodonta woodiana) by the two dreissenids, determine their mechanisms and predict environmental consequences of the species replacement. ZM fouled unionids evenly throughout the year, whereas QM exhibited high fluctuations, being common on unionid shells during their recruitment peak (summer), decreasing towards autumn and almost completely absent in spring. Such fluctuations did not occur on stony substrata. This pattern suggests that interspecific differences in fouling did not result from recruitment preferences, but from greater detachment of QM from unionid substratum, whereas ZM more often remained attached to their initial recruitment sites. This was supported by the results of the laboratory experiments, in which dreissenid mussels did not show any consistent preference or avoidance of unionid mussels. Whereas, QM attached less often than ZM to hard objects and showed a higher detachment rate. Furthermore, dreissenids increased detachment after substratum immersion into soft sediments, indicating their capability of coping with suffocation after the burrowing of the living substratum or its siltation. The observed pattern indicates that the replacement of ZM by QM in the dreissenid assemblage may reduce fouling pressure on unionids. On the other hand, unionids may become a refuge for ZM in habitats invaded by competitively superior QM.


Asunto(s)
Incrustaciones Biológicas , Dreissena , Ecosistema , Especies Introducidas , Animales , Dreissena/fisiología , Hungría , Bivalvos/fisiología , Monitoreo del Ambiente , Unionidae/fisiología , Lagos
3.
Curr Zool ; 69(6): 727-737, 2023 Dec.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37876643

RESUMEN

Globally, fish are frequently introduced beyond their native range. Some, like Ponto-Caspian gobies, are becoming invasive, achieving high colonization rates and constituting frequent prey for native predators. However, little is known about the effectiveness of antipredator behaviors of the invaders, which may shape their role in the invaded community and contribute to the invasion success. We compared antipredator behaviors of invasive gobies and native fish species after their detection by the predator, when the danger becomes direct. We studied 2 fish pairs, each consisting of an invasive and native species co-occurring in the environment and belonging to the same prey guild: (1) the racer goby Babka gymnotrachelus versus European bullhead Cottus gobio, (2) the monkey goby Neogobius fluviatilis versus gudgeon Gobio gobio, facing a naïve predator (the Eurasian perch Perca fluviatilis). We analyzed behaviors of single prey individuals (escaping, staying in shelter, and activity) and single predators (activity, searching, following, capturing, and latency to prey consumption). In the predator presence, the bullhead was less active and more often managed to escape after capture than the racer goby. The gudgeon escaped before the capture more often than the monkey goby. The predator succeeded later with the bullhead compared to racer goby, whereas no differences in ingestion time occurred between the gudgeon and monkey goby. The results suggest that, in terms of hunting effort of native predators, the invasive gobies are equivalent to or more profitable prey than their native analogs, which can facilitate the integration of the gobies into local food webs.

4.
Environ Sci Pollut Res Int ; 30(40): 93255-93268, 2023 Aug.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37507567

RESUMEN

The electromagnetic field (EMF) is ubiquitous in the environment, constituting a well-known but poorly understood stressor. Few studies have been conducted on insect responses to EMF, although they are an excellent experimental model and are of great ecological importance. In our work, we tested the effects of EMF (50 Hz, 7 mT) on the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus: the male calling song pattern, female mate choice, and levels of biogenic amines in the brain. Exposure of males to EMF increased the number and shortened the period of chips in their calling song (by 2.7% and 5% relative to the control song, respectively), but not the sound frequency. Aged (3-week-old) females were attracted to both natural and EMF-modified male signals, whereas young (1-week-old, virgin) females responded only to the modified signal, suggesting its higher attractance. Stress response of males to EMF may be responsible for the change in the calling song, as suggested by the changes in the amine levels in their brains: an increase in dopamine (by 50% relative to the control value), tyramine (65%), and serotonin (25%) concentration and a decrease in octopamine level (by 25%). These findings indicate that G. bimaculatus responds to EMF, like stressful conditions, which may change the condition and fitness of exposed individuals, disrupt mate selection, and, in consequence, affect the species' existence.


Asunto(s)
Críquet , Humanos , Masculino , Femenino , Campos Electromagnéticos , Aminas Biogénicas
5.
Curr Zool ; 69(3): 354-359, 2023 Jun.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37351292

RESUMEN

Assessment of individual costs of the anti-predator defence translating into changes in population parameters is meagre. This is because prey responses are likely to be modulated by additional factors, commonly present in the environment, but often neglected in experimental studies. To evaluate the effect of external factors on prey behavior and physiology, we exposed amphipods Dikerogammarus villosus and Gammarus jazdzewskii to the predation cue of Perca fluviatilis in different densities and light conditions. Singletons of both species exposed to the predation cue in light modified their oxygen consumption (D. villosus: reduction, G. jadzewskii: increase) compared to their respiration in predator-free conditions. However, in the presence of conspecifics or in darkness, their respiration became insensitive to the predation cue. On the other hand, the swimming activity of prey was reduced in the presence of the predation cue irrespective of prey density and light conditions, but singletons were consistently more active than groups. Thus, external factors, such as conspecifics and darkness, constantly or periodically occurring in the field, may reduce the costs of predator non-consumptive effects compared to the costs measured under laboratory conditions (in light or absence of conspecifics). Moreover, we showed that behavioral and physiological parameters of prey may change differently in response to predation risk. Thus, conclusions drawn on the basis of single defence mechanisms and/or results obtained in artificial conditions, not reflecting the environmental complexity, strongly depend on the experimental design and endpoint selection and therefore should be treated with care.

6.
J Anim Ecol ; 92(2): 503-513, 2023 02.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36519974

RESUMEN

Parasites are a crucial factor that shapes the functioning of communities throughout the world, as are gregarious macrofoulers in aquatic ecosystems. However, little is known about the effects of three-way interactions between macrofoulers, endoparasites and their hosts. We predict that macrofouling and parasite infection may act (i) independently of each other, (ii) synergistically, increasing their final negative impact on the host or (iii) antagonistically, the former weakening the negative impact of the latter. We investigated multiway relationships between an invasive freshwater filter-feeding macrofouler (the zebra mussel), digenean endoparasite and their gastropod host, Viviparus viviparus. Furthermore, we checked the recruitment of mussels in living gastropods versus their empty shells. We sampled living V. viviparus and their empty shells with attached dreissenids from a Polish dam reservoir. We counted and weighed attached mussels and determined wet weight, shell height and sex of gastropods. Then we dissected the molluscs to look for digenean larvae and gastropod embryos. We use these parameters to look for reciprocal associations between mussel fouling, parasitic infection and gastropod size and fertility, as well as to infer the most likely mechanisms of the observed relationships. Dreissenid overgrowth was associated with reduced fertility and size of viviparids, but also with a lower prevalence of digenean metacercariae (Leucochloridiomorpha sp.). We did not observe a negative influence of these digeneans on their gastropod hosts. In addition, large living viviparids and their empty shells were equally used as substrates by dreissenids, but small living gastropods were more fouled than shells of the corresponding size. A trade-off exists in the studied system: filter-feeding macrofoulers may bring some profits for their host, reducing the pressure of waterborne parasites (which may be crucial in the case of pathogenic species/life stages), although at the cost of the reduced growth and fertility of the host. Furthermore, mussels attached to mollusc hosts can exert a cascading effect on the reduced prevalence of digeneans in their final hosts, including those of medical or veterinary importance.


Asunto(s)
Gastrópodos , Trematodos , Animales , Ecosistema , Interacciones Huésped-Parásitos , Moluscos/parasitología
7.
Environ Pollut ; 306: 119476, 2022 Aug 01.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35580711

RESUMEN

Artificial light at night (ALAN) alters circadian rhythms in animals and therefore can be a source of environmental stress affecting their physiology and behaviour. The impact of ALAN can be related to the increased light level, but also to the spectral composition of night lighting. Previous research showed that many species can be particularly sensitive to the LED light, but it is unclear if they respond to its broad spectrum or specifically to the blue light wavelength. In this study, we tested whether dim ALAN (2 lx) differing in the spectral quality (warm white LED, blue LED, high-pressure sodium HPS light) modifies behaviour and changes oxidative status in two nocturnal freshwater shredder species: Dikerogammarus villosus and Gammarus jazdzewskii (Gammaroidea, Amphipoda). Our experiment revealed that ALAN, irrespective of its spectral quality, did not affect the oxidative stress markers in cells (the level of reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxidation). However, ALAN changed the gammarid behaviour in a species-specific manner, which can potentially reduce the fitness of the shredders. Dikerogammarus villosus avoided all types of light compared to darkness. Therefore, confined to the shelter, D. villosus may have fewer opportunities to forage and/or mate. Gammarus jazdzewskii was sensitive only to the narrow-spectrum blue light, but did not respond to the HPS and white LED light. Avoidance is a typical response of gammarids to natural light, thus the disruption of this behaviour in the presence of common ALAN sources can increase the predation risk in this species. To summarize, behavioural modifications induced by ALAN seem more pronounced than changes in physiology and can constitute the main driver of disturbances in the processing of organic matter in freshwater ecosystems by invertebrate shredders.


Asunto(s)
Anfípodos , Ecosistema , Animales , Agua Dulce , Contaminación Lumínica , Estrés Oxidativo
8.
Sci Total Environ ; 786: 147407, 2021 Sep 10.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33965828

RESUMEN

Artificial light at night (ALAN) is a globally widespread phenomenon potentially affecting ecosystem processes, such as leaf litter breakdown, which is a source of organic matter in fresh waters. Here, we conducted a long-term experiment to test the effects of ALAN (2 lx) differing in spectral composition: white LEDs and high pressure sodium lamps (HPS) on leaf consumption, growth and activity of two macroinvertebrate species of shredders: Gammarus jazdzewskii and Dikerogammarus villosus (Crustacea, Amphipoda), compared to the undisturbed light-dark cycle. We also tested if the nocturnal illumination would influence the algal community colonising leaves, which is an important component of the leaf-shredder diet. We found that LED light increased the consumption of leaves by both species, which was nearly twice as high as in other treatments, and supressed the growth rate of G. jazdzewskii, whereas the growth of D. villosus was not affected by either light type. Moreover, D. villosus reduced its activity when exposed to ALAN of both types. As ALAN-induced changes in shredder growth and consumption were not associated with their increased activity or decreased food quality, we suggest that LED light may be a source of physiological stress for shredders, raising their energy expenditure, which was compensated by increased food intake. We have shown that LED illumination induces greater effects on wildlife than alternative, narrow wavelength spectrum light sources, such as HPS lamps, and may potentially alter the litter breakdown in aquatic ecosystems. It may accelerate the turnover of leaves by shredders, but on the other hand, it may negatively affect the fitness of macroinvertebrates and thus disturb the leaf processing over a longer term.


Asunto(s)
Anfípodos , Ecosistema , Animales , Dieta , Agua Dulce , Hojas de la Planta
10.
Animals (Basel) ; 11(4)2021 Apr 09.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33918889

RESUMEN

An ornamental freshwater shrimp, Neocaridina davidi, is popular as an aquarium hobby and, therefore, a potentially invasive species. There is a growing need for proper management of this species to determine not only their optimum breeding conditions, but also their ability to colonise novel environments. We tested habitat preferences of colour morphs (brown, red, white) of N. davidi for substratum colour (black, white, grey shades, red) and fine or coarse chess-board patterns to recognise their suitable captivity conditions and predict their distribution after potential release into nature. We conducted laboratory choice experiments (n = 8) with three individuals of the same morph exposed for two hours to a range of backgrounds. Shrimp preferred dark backgrounds over light ones irrespective of their own colouration and its match with the background colour. Moreover, the brown and red morphs, in contrast to the white morph, preferred the coarse background pattern over the finer pattern. This suggests that the presence of dark, uniform substrata (e.g., rocks, macrophytes) will favour N. davidi. Nevertheless, the polymorphism of the species has little effect on its total niche breadth, and thus its invasive potential.

11.
Sci Total Environ ; 742: 140474, 2020 Nov 10.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32623164

RESUMEN

Global warming is a worldwide phenomenon affecting the functioning of diverse ecosystems, including fresh waters. Temperature increase affects physiology and behaviour of ectotherms due to growing energetic demands necessary to sustain increased metabolic rate. Anti-predator responses may resemble temperature-induced changes in organisms, suggesting synergism between these factors. To check how temperature shapes physiological and behavioural responses of ectotherms to predation risk, we exposed amphipods: Dikerogammarus villosus and Gammarus jazdzewskii to fish kairomones at 10, 17 or 24 °C. Animals were placed in tanks where temperature was gradually adjusted to the desired test temperature and acclimated under such conditions for 3 subsequent days. Then they were exposed to the predator cue (the Eurasian perch kairomone) for 35 min to test their acute responses. We measured metabolic rate (as respiration), antioxidant defence (CAT: catalase activity, TAS: total antioxidant status), oxidative molecules (TOS: total oxidative status), oxidative damage (TBARS: thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) and behaviour (locomotor activity). Amphipods increased respiration with raising temperature and when exposed to predation risk (all temperatures). Only G. jazdzewskii exhibited increased TOS when exposed to 24 °C or to predation risk at all temperatures. Antioxidant defence increased with raising temperature (CAT, TAS) and decreased under predation risk (CAT). Cellular damage increased in G. jazdzewskii under predation risk at 10 and 24 °C, but raised temperature itself did not generate any damage. Amphipods reduced locomotor activity at 24 °C. Thus, at elevated temperatures, amphipods minimized their cellular damage at the cost of increased antioxidant defence and lower locomotor activity (potentially disadvantageous under higher energetic demands). Under predation risk, the performance of antioxidant systems was reduced, probably due to energy allocation into anti-predatory mechanisms, leading to increased cellular damage at suboptimum temperatures. Thus, negative consequences of elevated temperature for organisms may be amplified by changes in behaviour (compromising food acquisition) and non-consumptive predator effects.


Asunto(s)
Anfípodos , Animales , Ecosistema , Agua Dulce , Calentamiento Global , Conducta Predatoria , Temperatura
12.
Sci Rep ; 10(1): 6972, 2020 04 24.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32332831

RESUMEN

Prey reconfigure their physiology to avoid costs of prolonged predator pressure. However, these changes might not occur under periodic predation risk, with repeating acute phases. To test the effect of predation risk continuity on changes in prey physiology, we exposed amphipods: Dikerogammarus villosus and Gammarus jazdzewskii to periodic and constant predation cue. After one week, we measured: cellular defence systems: total antioxidant status (TAS), heat shock proteins (Hsp70); intracellular damage marker: lipid peroxidation (TBARS); condition index: glycogen concentration. Predator presence reduced TAS level in G. jazdzewskii independent of its continuity and in D. villosus after periodic exposure. Amphipods showed downregulation of Hsp70 when exposed to periodic (D. villosus) or constant (G. jazdzewskii) predation risk. Exposure to predators reduced TBARS level in D. villosus (irrespective of the continuity) and G. jazdzewskii (periodic exposure). Glycogen concentration in both species was not affected by predator presence. Thus, the continuity of the predator cue shaped prey physiology reconfiguration, optimizing costs of physiological adjustments under challenging conditions. Nevertheless, the lack of negative consequences of the prolonged exposure to the predator cue, whether constant or periodic, shows that amphipods can thrive under chronic predation risk, which is a constant part of the wild environment.


Asunto(s)
Anfípodos/metabolismo , Ecología , Especies Introducidas , Animales , Agua Dulce , Glucógeno/metabolismo , Sustancias Reactivas al Ácido Tiobarbitúrico/metabolismo
13.
Oecologia ; 192(2): 341-350, 2020 Feb.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31919694

RESUMEN

As acute stress induced by predation risk can generate significant oxidative damage, prey organisms are forced to balance their defence reaction and the cost of activating the cellular defence system. Stress tolerance differs significantly among species; therefore predator pressure indirectly shapes the community structure. To test adaptation abilities of amphipod crustaceans (Dikerogammarus villosus and Gammarus jazdzewskii) we exposed them to acute (35 min.) and chronic (1 or 7 days) predation risk (the Eurasian perch). We measured respiration (related to metabolic rate), cellular defence systems (antioxidant enzyme (catalase) activity and heat shock protein (Hsp70) concentration), and the level of oxidative damage (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) concentration). Both amphipods increased their respiration rate in the presence of predation cues, irrespective of the duration of their pre-exposure to danger. This increase in D. villosus was initiated more quickly (immediately vs. after 10 min. of the test) and lasted for a longer time (20 vs. 10 min.) than in G. jazdzewskii. However, only G. jazdzewskii after a short exposure to predation risk exhibited an increase in its catalase activity, Hsp70 concentration and oxidative damage. No changes in these parameters were exhibited by D. villosus or after a chronic exposure of G. jazdzewskii to predation cues. Our results show that prey organisms are able to reconfigure their physiology to maintain increased metabolic rate under prolonged predator pressure and, at the same time, reduce oxidative damage as well as costs related to anti-oxidant defence.


Asunto(s)
Anfípodos , Conducta Predatoria , Adaptación Fisiológica , Animales , Señales (Psicología)
14.
Sci Total Environ ; 684: 14-22, 2019 Sep 20.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-31150872

RESUMEN

Due to the widespread use of artificial light, freshwater ecosystems in urban areas at night are often subjected to light of intensities exceeding that of the moonlight. Nocturnal dim light could modify fish behaviour and benefit visual predators because of enhanced foraging success compared to dark nights. However, effects of nocturnal light could be mitigated by the presence of structured habitats providing refuges for prey. We tested in laboratory experiments whether nocturnal light of low intensity (2 lx) increases foraging efficiency of the Eurasian perch (Perca fluviatilis) on invertebrate prey (Gammarus fossarum). The tests were conducted at dusk and night under two light regimes: natural cycle with dark nights and disturbed cycle with artificially illuminated nights, in habitats differing in structural complexity: sand and woody debris. We found that nocturnal illumination significantly enhanced the consumption of gammarids by fish compared to dark nights. In addition, the perch was as effective predator in illuminated nights (2 lx) as at dusk (10 lx). Woody debris provided an effective refuge only in combination with undisturbed darkness, but not in illuminated nights. Our results suggest that nocturnal illumination in aquatic ecosystems may contribute to significant reductions in invertebrate population sizes through fish predation. The loss of darkness reduces the possibility of using shelters by invertebrates and hence the effects of elevated light levels at night could not be mitigated by an increased habitat complexity.


Asunto(s)
Ecosistema , Luz , Percas/fisiología , Conducta Predatoria , Anfípodos/fisiología , Animales , Cadena Alimentaria , Conducta Predatoria/efectos de la radiación
15.
PeerJ ; 6: e5311, 2018.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-30083455

RESUMEN

Predator pressure is a fundamental force driving changes at all levels of the community structure. It may protect native ecosystems from alien species. Therefore, resistance to diverse predators resulting from a universal anti-predator strategy seems crucial for invasion success. We present a comprehensive review of the responses of an invasive amphipod Dikerogammarus villosus to sympatric and allopatric predator signals. We summarize diverse aspects of the gammarid anti-predator strategy, including predator identification, morphological and behavioural adaptations, effectiveness of shelter use and resistance to indirect predator effects. The response of D. villosus is independent of predator species (including totally allopatric taxa), which assures the high flexibility of its predator recognition system. It has a harder exoskeleton and better capability of utilizing shelters compared to other gammarids, resulting in relatively high resistance to predators. Therefore, it can use predator kairomones as indirect food signals (sharing the diet with the predator) and follow the predator scent. This resistance may allow D. villosus to reduce the costs of its physiological responses to predators and sustain growth in their presence. This might facilitate invasion success by increasing its competitive advantage.

16.
PeerJ ; 6: e4871, 2018.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29868278

RESUMEN

Temperature is a crucial factor determining biology and ecology of poikilothermic animals. It often constitutes an important barrier for invasive species originating from different climate zones but, on the other hand, may facilitate the invasion process of animals with wide thermal preferences and high resistance to extreme temperatures. In our experimental study, we investigated the thermal behaviour of two Ponto-Caspian amphipod crustaceans-Dikerogammarus villosus and Dikerogammarus haemobaphes. Both species are known to live under a wide range of thermal conditions which may promote their invasion. Moreover, both these amphipods are hosts for microsporidian parasites which co-evolved with them within the Ponto-Caspian region and spread in European waters. As the presence of a parasite may influence the thermal preferences of its host, we expected to observe behavioural changes in infected individuals of the studied amphipods leading to (1) behavioural fever (selecting a warmer habitat) or (2) anapyrexia (selecting a colder habitat). The experiment (N = 20) was carried out for 30 min in a 100 cm. 20 cm from boths sides were not avaliable for amphipods long thermal gradient (0-40 °C), using 30 randomly selected adult amphipod individuals of one species. At the end of each trial, we checked the position of amphipods along the gradient and determined their sex and infection status (uninfected or infected by one of microsporidium species). D. villosus was infected with Cucumispora dikerogammari whereas D. haemobaphes was a host for C. dikerogammari, Dictyocoela muelleri or D. berillonum. Thermal preferences of amphipods depended on their species and sex. Females of D. villosus preferred warmer microhabitats (often much above 30 °C) than conspecific males and females of D. haemobaphes, whereas no significant differences were found among males of both species and both sexes of D. haemobaphes. Moreover, infected males of D. villosus stayed in warmer water more often than uninfected males of this species, selecting temperatures higher than 30 °C, which may be explained either as a behavioural fever constituting a defence mechanism of a host against the infection, or as a parasite manipulation of the host behaviour increasing the parasite fitness. On the other hand, none of the parasite species affected the thermal preferences of D. haemobaphes, including also C. dikerogammari, changing the behaviour of D. villosus. Our research presents the complexity of the thermal behaviour of studied amphipods and the evidence that microsporidia may trigger a change in temperature preferendum of their host species and those observations may be the result of different host-parasite coevolution time which may vary for the two host species (Poulin, 2010).

17.
Naturwissenschaften ; 105(5-6): 35, 2018 May 09.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29744635

RESUMEN

Although shell colour polymorphism of the land snail Cepaea nemoralis is a well-known phenomenon, proximate and ultimate factors driving its evolution remain uncertain. Polymorphic species show variation in behavioural responses to selective forces. Therefore, we estimated effects of various environmental factors (temperature, humidity, food availability, (micro)habitat structure and predatory pressure) on behavioural response (frequency of locomotion, climbing and hiding) of C. nemoralis morphs, in experimental and natural conditions. In the experimental part of study, the frequency of locomotion was negatively affected by temperature and the presence of food and positively influenced by the presence of light. Morphs significantly differed in behavioural responses to environmental variability. Pink mid-banded and yellow five-banded morphs climbed less often and hide in shelter more often than yellow and pink unbanded individuals when temperature was low and food was absent. Snails fed most often at moderate temperature compared to low and high temperatures. Field investigations partially confirmed differences among morphs in frequency of climbing, but not in terms of probability of hiding in sheltered sites. In natural colonies, temperature and (micro)habitat structure significantly affected frequency of climbing as well as hiding in shelter. Snails more often hid in sheltered sites where thrushes preyed on Cepaea. Tendency of unbanded morphs to climb trees may have evolved under avian predatory pressure as thrushes forage on a ground. Tendency of banded morphs to hide in sheltered sites may reflect prey preferences for cryptic background. The results implicate that differential behaviour of C. nemoralis morphs compensate for their morphological and physiological limitations of adaptation to habitat.


Asunto(s)
Exoesqueleto/anatomía & histología , Conducta Animal/fisiología , Ecosistema , Pigmentación/fisiología , Caracoles/anatomía & histología , Caracoles/fisiología , Temperatura , Animales , Aves/fisiología , Cadena Alimentaria
18.
Curr Zool ; 64(1): 53-61, 2018 Feb.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29492038

RESUMEN

Zebra mussel Dreissena polymorpha is a Ponto-Caspian species invasive in Europe and North America, with great environmental impact. It lives byssally attached to hard substrata in large aggregations, which is often explained by its preferences for conspecifics, though direct evidence for such preferences has been rather limited so far. We studied the reactions of zebra mussels to conspecifics, hypothesizing that they may either be attracted to one another or form aggregations only in the absence of alternative attachment sites. In Experiment 1, we tested mussel tendency to detach from existing druses depending on druse size (2-25 individuals) and substratum type (soft: sand; hard: glass). Mussels detached significantly more often on the hard substratum and from larger druses compared to soft substratum and smaller druses, respectively. This indicates that mussels tended to avoid conspecifics at high density, particularly when alternative substratum was available. In Experiment 2, we tested the responses of single mussels to distant (3 or 15 cm) conspecifics (0, 3, 15 individuals per 2.5 l tank) on the sandy substratum. The presence of conspecifics, regardless of their distance and density, resulted in single unattached mussels staying more often in their initial positions. Mussels did not move preferentially towards or away from the conspecifics. Thus, even on unsuitable substratum mussels were not attracted by conspecifics and probably exhibited an avoidance reaction by reducing their movement. This suggests that dense mussel aggregations are formed due to the lack of available alternative attachment sites rather than due to their preferences for conspecifics.

19.
J Therm Biol ; 72: 26-32, 2018 Feb.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29496011

RESUMEN

Embryogenesis and post-embryogenesis of spiders depend on several environmental factors including light and temperature. This study was aimed at evaluating the impact of different thermal and lighting conditions on embryonic and early post-embryonic development of Eratigena atrica. Embryos, larvae, nymphs I and II were incubated at constant temperatures of 12, 22, 25 and 32°C under three different light regimes: light, dark, light/dark. Extreme temperatures (12 and 32°C) significantly increased mortality of embryos (to 100%) and nymphs II, whereas larvae and nymphs I suffered reduced survival only at the lowest temperature. Moreover, the lowest temperature reduced the development rate of all stages. The impact of light conditions was less pronounced and more variable: constant light reduced the survival of nymphs I at lower temperatures, but increased that of larvae. Moreover, light increased the time of embryonic development and duration of nymphal stages, particularly at lower temperatures (12-22°C). Thus, the most optimal locations for spiders seem to be dark (though except larval stage) and warm (25°C) sites, where their development is fastest and mortality lowest.


Asunto(s)
Ambiente , Iluminación , Arañas/crecimiento & desarrollo , Temperatura , Animales , Femenino , Larva/crecimiento & desarrollo , Masculino , Ninfa/crecimiento & desarrollo , Arañas/embriología , Análisis de Supervivencia
20.
Invert Neurosci ; 18(2): 3, 2018 03 10.
Artículo en Inglés | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29525854

RESUMEN

The brain of arachnids contains a special neuropil area called the arcuate body (AB), whose function has been widely discussed. Its growth and proportion in the brain volume during postembryogenesis have been investigated only in several spider species. Our allometric study is aimed at determining to what extent the development of the AB in Eratigena atrica, a spider with unique biology and behaviour, is similar to the development of this body in other species. We put forward a hypothesis of allometric growth of this body in relation to the volume of the central nervous system (CNS) and its neuropil as well as in relation to the volume of the brain and its neuropil. The analysis of paraffin embedded, H + E stained histological preparations confirmed our hypothesis. The AB developed more slowly than the CNS and the neuropil of both the brain and the CNS. In contrast, it exhibited positive allometry in relation to the volume of the brain. This body increased more than nine times within the postembryonic development. Its proportion in the brain volume varied; the lowest was recorded in larvae and nymphs I; then, it increased in nymphs VI and decreased to 2.93% in nymphs X. We conclude that in Eratigena atrica, the AB develops differently that in orb-weaver and wandering spiders. There is no universal model of the AB development, although in adult spiders, regardless of their behaviour, the proportion of this area in the brain volume is similar.


Asunto(s)
Arácnidos/anatomía & histología , Arácnidos/embriología , Sistema Nervioso Central/citología , Sistema Nervioso Central/embriología , Desarrollo Embrionario/fisiología , Neurópilo/fisiología , Animales , Embrión no Mamífero , Femenino , Masculino
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