0000000000470414
AUTHOR
Hellena Binz
The chemistry of competition: exploitation of heterospecific cues depends on the dominance rank in the community
Interspecific competition is an important ecological mechanism shaping the traits of the interacting species and structuring their communities. Less competitive species benefit from evading direct encounters with aggressive dominants, whereas dominant species could use cues left by subordinates to steal their resources or to chase them off. Here, we studied competitive interactions among five common and syntopic ant species in Central Europe (Formica polyctena, Formica rufibarbis, Lasius niger, Myrmica rubra and Tetramorium caespitum) and investigated their ability to react to heterospecific chemical cues. Using aggression assays, we established a clear dominance hierarchy of these species,…
Mating-induced differential peptidomics of neuropeptides and protein hormones in Agrotis ipsilon moths
International audience; In many insects, mating induces drastic changes in male and female responses to sex pheromones or host-plant odors. In the male moth Agrotis ipsilon, mating induces a transient inhibition of behavioral and neuronal responses to the female sex pheromone. As neuropeptides and peptide hormones regulate most behavioral processes, we hypothesize that they could be involved in this mating-dependent olfactory plasticity. Here we used next-generation RNA sequencing and a combination of liquid chromatography, matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry, and direct tissue profiling to analyze the transcriptome and peptidome of diffe…
Knowing the Risk: Crickets Distinguish between Spider Predators of Different Size and Commonness
Predators unintentionally release chemical and other cues into their environment that can be used by prey to assess predator presence. Prey organisms can therefore perform specific antipredator behavior to reduce predation risk, which can strongly shape the outcome of trophic interactions. In contrast to aquatic systems, studies on cue-driven antipredator behavior in terrestrial arthropods cover only few species to date. Here, we investigated occurrence and strength of antipredator behavior of the wood cricket Nemobius sylvestris toward cues of 14 syntopic spider species that are potential predators of wood crickets. We used two different behavioral arena experiments to investigate the infl…
Spider cues stimulate feeding, weight gain and survival of crickets
1. To avoid predation, prey often change their behaviour upon encountering cues of predator presence. Such behavioural changes should enhance individual survival, but are likely to be energy-demanding. This should deplete energy reserves of the prey, unless it increases food intake. 2. These hypotheses were studied by conducting two microcosm experiments. In the first, crickets were kept on plants previously occupied by a spider or on control plants. After 3 days leaf consumption and weight gain of the crickets were quantified. In the second experiment, crickets were kept in the presence or absence of spider cues for 3 days. Spiders were then added and predation of the crickets was recorded…