Predator–prey interaction in insects and arachnids: a chemical ecology perspective

Animals emit distinctive semiochemicals—chemical substances that mediate interactions between organisms—and many of them have evolved means to detect and respond to these chemicals emitted by others. This results in a complex web of semiochemical-mediated interactions that are as diverse...

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Main Authors: Vivek Kempraj, Soo Jean Park
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Academia.edu Journals 2024-09-01
Series:Academia Environmental Sciences and Sustainability
Online Access:https://www.academia.edu/123967256/Predator_prey_interaction_in_insects_and_arachnids_A_chemical_ecology_perspective
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author Vivek Kempraj
Soo Jean Park
author_facet Vivek Kempraj
Soo Jean Park
author_sort Vivek Kempraj
collection DOAJ
description Animals emit distinctive semiochemicals—chemical substances that mediate interactions between organisms—and many of them have evolved means to detect and respond to these chemicals emitted by others. This results in a complex web of semiochemical-mediated interactions that are as diverse as the number of species involved. The interactions between predators and prey play out both in the present and through evolutionary time. Predators are selected to become proficient at detecting and catching prey. Concurrently, there is a selection on prey to become efficient at detecting and eluding predators. Predator–prey interaction has sequential stages starting with initial detection, attack by the predator or either evasion or counterattack by the prey, capture by the predator or escape by the prey, and ingestion by the predator or alarm by the prey. At each stage of the predator–prey interaction sequence, stage-specific semiochemicals may be released by both the predator and the prey. Despite the numerous studies of predator–prey interactions, there is surprisingly little information available about the semiochemicals that mediate predator–prey interactions in insects and arachnids. Most work has been limited to bioassays that demonstrate or suggest the presence and biological role of semiochemicals, but in the large majority of cases, the chemical composition of semiochemicals remains unstudied. Here, we attempt to discuss evidence of predator- or prey-produced semiochemicals that induce or prime a predatory or anti-predatory behavior in terrestrial insects and arachnids, and the potential for developing these biologically active compounds as pest management tools.
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spelling doaj-art-77bbf2f7f7f04c39977f52da7dd339232025-02-11T23:18:10ZengAcademia.edu JournalsAcademia Environmental Sciences and Sustainability2997-60062024-09-011210.20935/AcadEnvSci7346Predator–prey interaction in insects and arachnids: a chemical ecology perspectiveVivek Kempraj0Soo Jean Park1Applied Biosciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia.Applied Biosciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia. Animals emit distinctive semiochemicals—chemical substances that mediate interactions between organisms—and many of them have evolved means to detect and respond to these chemicals emitted by others. This results in a complex web of semiochemical-mediated interactions that are as diverse as the number of species involved. The interactions between predators and prey play out both in the present and through evolutionary time. Predators are selected to become proficient at detecting and catching prey. Concurrently, there is a selection on prey to become efficient at detecting and eluding predators. Predator–prey interaction has sequential stages starting with initial detection, attack by the predator or either evasion or counterattack by the prey, capture by the predator or escape by the prey, and ingestion by the predator or alarm by the prey. At each stage of the predator–prey interaction sequence, stage-specific semiochemicals may be released by both the predator and the prey. Despite the numerous studies of predator–prey interactions, there is surprisingly little information available about the semiochemicals that mediate predator–prey interactions in insects and arachnids. Most work has been limited to bioassays that demonstrate or suggest the presence and biological role of semiochemicals, but in the large majority of cases, the chemical composition of semiochemicals remains unstudied. Here, we attempt to discuss evidence of predator- or prey-produced semiochemicals that induce or prime a predatory or anti-predatory behavior in terrestrial insects and arachnids, and the potential for developing these biologically active compounds as pest management tools.https://www.academia.edu/123967256/Predator_prey_interaction_in_insects_and_arachnids_A_chemical_ecology_perspective
spellingShingle Vivek Kempraj
Soo Jean Park
Predator–prey interaction in insects and arachnids: a chemical ecology perspective
Academia Environmental Sciences and Sustainability
title Predator–prey interaction in insects and arachnids: a chemical ecology perspective
title_full Predator–prey interaction in insects and arachnids: a chemical ecology perspective
title_fullStr Predator–prey interaction in insects and arachnids: a chemical ecology perspective
title_full_unstemmed Predator–prey interaction in insects and arachnids: a chemical ecology perspective
title_short Predator–prey interaction in insects and arachnids: a chemical ecology perspective
title_sort predator prey interaction in insects and arachnids a chemical ecology perspective
url https://www.academia.edu/123967256/Predator_prey_interaction_in_insects_and_arachnids_A_chemical_ecology_perspective
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