Abstract
Predatory larvae of the midge Chaoborus americanus induce an antipredator defense (‘neckteeth’) in prey individuals of the cladoceran Daphnia pulex. The signal for presence of predator is a water-soluble chemical. We provide evidence that this kairomone originates in the intestinal tract of the predator. The active compound is an organic molecule of intermediate polarity which is heat stable and partially destroyed by acid and base digestion. It is stable to digestion by the general peptidase Pronase. Hydroxyl groups, but not primary amines, carbonyls or thiols are essential to activity. Low-pressure liquid chromatography on a reverse-phase silica gel (Amicon Matrex C-18) column suggests there may be more than one active component.
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Parejko, K., Dodson, S. Progress towards characterization of a predator/prey kairomone: Daphnia pulex and Chaoborus americanus . Hydrobiologia 198, 51–59 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00048622
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00048622