INVERTEBRATE PREDATION SELECTS FOR THE LOSS OF A MORPHOLOGICAL ANTIPREDATOR TRAIT
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1 June 2006 INVERTEBRATE PREDATION SELECTS FOR THE LOSS OF A MORPHOLOGICAL ANTIPREDATOR TRAIT
Dirk Johannes Mikolajewski, Frank Johansson, Bianca Wohlfahrt, Robby Stoks
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Abstract

Antagonistic selection by different predators has been suggested to underlie variation in morphological antipredator traits among and within species. Direct empirical proof is equivocal, however, given the potential interrelationships of morphological and behavioral traits. Here, we tested whether spines in larvae of the dragonfly Leucorrhinia caudalis, which are selected for by fish predators, are selected against by invertebrate aeshnid predators. Using a manipulative approach by cutting spines instead of making comparisons among species or inducing spines, we were able to decouple the presence of spines from other potentially covarying morphological antipredator traits. Results showed survival selection for the loss of spines imposed by invertebrate predation. Moreover, spined and nonspined larval L. caudalis did not differ in the key antipredator behaviors, activity level, and escape burst swimming speed. The observed higher mortality of spined larvae can therefore be directly linked to selection by aeshnid predation against spines.

Dirk Johannes Mikolajewski, Frank Johansson, Bianca Wohlfahrt, and Robby Stoks "INVERTEBRATE PREDATION SELECTS FOR THE LOSS OF A MORPHOLOGICAL ANTIPREDATOR TRAIT," Evolution 60(6), 1306-1310, (1 June 2006). https://doi.org/10.1554/05-700.1
Received: 19 December 2005; Accepted: 27 March 2006; Published: 1 June 2006
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KEYWORDS
Antagonistic selection
antipredator traits
Leucorrhinia caudalis
Odonata
spines
survival trade-off
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