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When and how can Daphnia prepare their offspring for the threat of predation?

  • BIOLOGY OF CLADOCERA
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Abstract

The life history of Daphnia exposed to fish kairomone at different developmental stages was examined in a laboratory experiment. The strongest life history response to the applied predation threat was observed in females exposed during the 4th instar. Compared to Daphnia experiencing the presence of fish at earlier or later instars, these individuals reached maturity at a smaller size and released fewer neonates. Moreover, their offspring also demonstrated the strongest reaction to predation threat, exhibiting the broadest phenotypic plasticity in the life history response to predation. The breadth of their reaction norm was, on average, two times larger comparing with individuals from other treatments. Broader phenotypic plasticity may offer clear selective advantages under the unpredictable predation regime. This finding highlights the adaptive role of maternal effect in shaping life history of cladocerans.

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Acknowledgments

We are grateful to anonymous Reviewers who helped us to improve this manuscript. The study was supported by grant 0941/B/P01/2008/35.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Hydrobiology, University of Warsaw, Banacha 2, 02-097, Warsaw, Poland

    Andrzej Mikulski & Joanna Pijanowska

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  1. Andrzej Mikulski
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  2. Joanna Pijanowska
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Correspondence to Andrzej Mikulski.

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Guest editors: M. Silva-Briano & S. S. S. Sarma / Biology of Cladocera (Crustacea): Proceedings of the VIII International Cladocera Symposium

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Mikulski, A., Pijanowska, J. When and how can Daphnia prepare their offspring for the threat of predation?. Hydrobiologia 643, 21–26 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-010-0131-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-010-0131-0

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