Learning from the environment: how predation changes the behavior of terrestrial Isopoda (Crustacea Oniscidea) G. R. Cazzolla, G. Messina, F. Tiralongo [et al.]
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ArticleContent type: Текст Media type: электронный Subject(s): изоподы | поведение | хищничество | наземные равноногие раки | поведенческие адаптацииGenre/Form: статьи в журналах Online resources: Click here to access online
In:
Ethology ecology & evolution Vol. 32, № 1. P. 29-45Abstract: Terrestrial isopods have adapted to predatory pressures by evolving a variety
of behaviors, which arise from a combination of specific traits, such as volvation
and tonic immobility. Evolutionarily, these behavioral adaptations have been shown
to increase the fitness of the individuals of the species who show them because the
probability of being predated is reduced due to the loss of interest by the predator
towards the immobile prey and the increase of interest towards the other mobile
ones. Even if some of these behaviors have been shown to have a genetic basis, there
is limited knowledge about the effects of environmental influences and predatorinduced
learning abilities on the antipredatory strategies of invertebrates, and isopods
in particular. Our study aimed to understand the degree to which “nature” and
“nurture” (i.e. environmental and genetic factors) and their interactions influence
these antipredatory behaviors. There might be a difference in the behavior of wild
and captive isopods in their volvation frequency and duration of tonic immobility
due to environmental factors (i.e. predation) that induce learning-related behavioral
changes. Therefore, we tested this hypothesis. We applied the three types of stimuli,
which aim to simulate the interaction of the predator with the isopod. All three
species showed a significant difference, between individuals collected in the field
(wild) and raised in the laboratory (captive), in the reaction to the stimulus that
simulates the fall from a bird’s beak or from the jaws of a lizard after a catch.
Although volvation frequency was highly species- and stimulus-specific, the duration
of tonic immobility and the delay in the response to each stimulus, when significant,
was always higher in wild groups than captive ones. These substantial differences
may reflect the evolutionary and ecological characteristics of each species and the
importance of environmental pressures to shape the behavior of these invertebrates
to optimize their life strategies.
Библиогр.: с. 43-45
Terrestrial isopods have adapted to predatory pressures by evolving a variety
of behaviors, which arise from a combination of specific traits, such as volvation
and tonic immobility. Evolutionarily, these behavioral adaptations have been shown
to increase the fitness of the individuals of the species who show them because the
probability of being predated is reduced due to the loss of interest by the predator
towards the immobile prey and the increase of interest towards the other mobile
ones. Even if some of these behaviors have been shown to have a genetic basis, there
is limited knowledge about the effects of environmental influences and predatorinduced
learning abilities on the antipredatory strategies of invertebrates, and isopods
in particular. Our study aimed to understand the degree to which “nature” and
“nurture” (i.e. environmental and genetic factors) and their interactions influence
these antipredatory behaviors. There might be a difference in the behavior of wild
and captive isopods in their volvation frequency and duration of tonic immobility
due to environmental factors (i.e. predation) that induce learning-related behavioral
changes. Therefore, we tested this hypothesis. We applied the three types of stimuli,
which aim to simulate the interaction of the predator with the isopod. All three
species showed a significant difference, between individuals collected in the field
(wild) and raised in the laboratory (captive), in the reaction to the stimulus that
simulates the fall from a bird’s beak or from the jaws of a lizard after a catch.
Although volvation frequency was highly species- and stimulus-specific, the duration
of tonic immobility and the delay in the response to each stimulus, when significant,
was always higher in wild groups than captive ones. These substantial differences
may reflect the evolutionary and ecological characteristics of each species and the
importance of environmental pressures to shape the behavior of these invertebrates
to optimize their life strategies.
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