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Inter- and intraspecific trait compensation of defence mechanisms in freshwater snails

Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, ISSN: 1471-2970, Vol: 268, Issue: 1475, Page: 1463-1468
2001
  • 114
    Citations
  • 0
    Usage
  • 137
    Captures
  • 0
    Mentions
  • 3
    Social Media
Metric Options:   Counts1 Year3 Year

Metrics Details

  • Citations
    114
  • Captures
    137
  • Social Media
    3
    • Shares, Likes & Comments
      3
      • Facebook
        3

Article Description

Trait compensation occurs when mechanically independent adaptations are negatively correlated. Here, we report the first study to demonstrate trait compensation in predator-defence adaptations across several species. Freshwater pulmonate snails exposed experimentally to predation chemical cues from fishes and crushed conspecifics showed clear interspecific differences in their behavioural avoidance responses, which were negatively correlated with shell crush resistance. The type of avoidance response varied between species: thin-shelled species (Lymnaea stagnalis and Physa fontinalis) moved to the water-line or out of the water, while those with thick shells moved under cover or showed a mixed response. There were also intraspecific size-linked differences, with an ontogenetic increase in shell strength accompanied by a decrease in behavioural avoidance. Such trait compensation in response to predation has important implications for interspecific interactions and food-web dynamics.

Bibliographic Details

Simon D. Rundle; Christer Brönmark

The Royal Society

Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology; Immunology and Microbiology; Environmental Science; Agricultural and Biological Sciences

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