Publication
Title
Food stress and predator-induced stress shape developmental performance in a damselfly
Author
Abstract
I studied effects of stress factors like food shortage, non-lethal predator presence and autotomy on survival and larval performance (growth rate, development rate and developmental stability) of larvae of the damselfly Lestes sponsa. In a laboratory experiment, larvae were raised during their last two instars at two food levels thigh or low) crossed with two levels of autotomy (caudal lamellae present or absent). These treatments were nested within three levels of predation risk (Aeshna cyanea absent, Chironomus-fed caged Aeshna or Lestes-fed caged Aeshna). The diet of the predator had no effects. The low food level and the presence of Aeshna independently increased mortality rates of L. sponsa larvae. The low food level, presence of a caged Aeshna and autotomy all independently reduced growth rate (mass and body size at day 40) and wing size at emergence, and the first two stress factors also reduced development rate. Regardless of predator presence and autotomy, all damselfly larvae consumed the food available. This indicated that the predator-induced stress effects were not due to reduced food uptake, but probably reflected lowered assimilation efficiency and/or a higher metabolic rate. Besides a low food level, the presence of caged Aeshna predator larvae and autotomy also increased hind wing asymmetry. This result demonstrated that predator-induced stress may reduce developmental stability in the grey.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Oecologia. - Berlin, 1968, currens
Publication
Berlin : 2001
ISSN
0029-8549 [print]
1432-1939 [online]
DOI
10.1007/S004420000595
Volume/pages
127 :2 (2001) , p. 222-229
ISI
000168395600010
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 29.02.2012
Last edited 09.12.2021
To cite this reference