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Influence of predator and dietary chemical cues on the behaviour and shredding efficiency of Gammarus pulex

Åbjörnsson, Kajsa LU ; Dahl, Jonas LU ; Nyström, Per LU and Brönmark, Christer LU (2000) In Aquatic Ecology 34(4). p.379-387
Abstract
In two laboratory experiments, we examined short- and long-term responses of the detritivorous amphipod Gammarus pulex to chemical cues from potential predators fed various diets. In the first experiment we studied the short-term effect on G. pulex (locomotory activity) when exposed to chemical cues from three co-existing predators; sculpin (Cottus gobio), trout (Salmo trutta), and signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus). Chemicals from sculpins and trout induced a short-term decrease in locomotory activity in G. pulex, whereas crayfish did not. There was no difference in activity between G. pulex exposed to water scented by trout or sculpin, and these responses were independent of predator diet (G. pulex, Asellus aquaticus and... (More)
In two laboratory experiments, we examined short- and long-term responses of the detritivorous amphipod Gammarus pulex to chemical cues from potential predators fed various diets. In the first experiment we studied the short-term effect on G. pulex (locomotory activity) when exposed to chemical cues from three co-existing predators; sculpin (Cottus gobio), trout (Salmo trutta), and signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus). Chemicals from sculpins and trout induced a short-term decrease in locomotory activity in G. pulex, whereas crayfish did not. There was no difference in activity between G. pulex exposed to water scented by trout or sculpin, and these responses were independent of predator diet (G. pulex, Asellus aquaticus and starved). In the second experiment we examined whether longer-term exposure (4 week) to chemical cues from sculpins affects rates of leaf processing by G. pulex. During the first week, G. pulex consumed significantly more leaves in the control (i.e., no fish cue) than in the fish cue treatment. After 4 weeks, however, there was no difference in total leaf processing rate between treatments indicating an adaptation to the cue. (Less)
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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Aquatic Ecology
volume
34
issue
4
pages
379 - 387
publisher
Springer
external identifiers
  • scopus:0034439954
ISSN
1386-2588
DOI
10.1023/A:1011442331229
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
68f665e8-75b4-45c3-a814-5f0464bbce3d (old id 150655)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 11:43:51
date last changed
2022-03-28 02:15:15
@article{68f665e8-75b4-45c3-a814-5f0464bbce3d,
  abstract     = {{In two laboratory experiments, we examined short- and long-term responses of the detritivorous amphipod Gammarus pulex to chemical cues from potential predators fed various diets. In the first experiment we studied the short-term effect on G. pulex (locomotory activity) when exposed to chemical cues from three co-existing predators; sculpin (Cottus gobio), trout (Salmo trutta), and signal crayfish (Pacifastacus leniusculus). Chemicals from sculpins and trout induced a short-term decrease in locomotory activity in G. pulex, whereas crayfish did not. There was no difference in activity between G. pulex exposed to water scented by trout or sculpin, and these responses were independent of predator diet (G. pulex, Asellus aquaticus and starved). In the second experiment we examined whether longer-term exposure (4 week) to chemical cues from sculpins affects rates of leaf processing by G. pulex. During the first week, G. pulex consumed significantly more leaves in the control (i.e., no fish cue) than in the fish cue treatment. After 4 weeks, however, there was no difference in total leaf processing rate between treatments indicating an adaptation to the cue.}},
  author       = {{Åbjörnsson, Kajsa and Dahl, Jonas and Nyström, Per and Brönmark, Christer}},
  issn         = {{1386-2588}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{379--387}},
  publisher    = {{Springer}},
  series       = {{Aquatic Ecology}},
  title        = {{Influence of predator and dietary chemical cues on the behaviour and shredding efficiency of Gammarus pulex}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1023/A:1011442331229}},
  doi          = {{10.1023/A:1011442331229}},
  volume       = {{34}},
  year         = {{2000}},
}