Non‐Consumptive Effects of Cannibalism Elicit a Metabolic Response in Dragonfly Larvae

ABSTRACT Predator–prey interactions typically involve changes in metabolic rates associated with hunting, foraging, and activation/maintenance of defense mechanisms. Similar response can result from non‐consumptive effects mediated by chemical cues, such as alarm cues (indicating predation), diet cu...

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Main Authors: Monika Sysiak, Jakub Baczyński, Andrzej Mikulski
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2025-02-01
Series:Ecology and Evolution
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70852
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author Monika Sysiak
Jakub Baczyński
Andrzej Mikulski
author_facet Monika Sysiak
Jakub Baczyński
Andrzej Mikulski
author_sort Monika Sysiak
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Predator–prey interactions typically involve changes in metabolic rates associated with hunting, foraging, and activation/maintenance of defense mechanisms. Similar response can result from non‐consumptive effects mediated by chemical cues, such as alarm cues (indicating predation), diet cues (signaling food resources), and kairomones (indicating predator or prey availability). While the impact of interspecific chemical communication on energy expenditure is well‐studied, the role of conspecific chemical cues is less understood. This study examines non‐consumptive effects of cannibalism on metabolic rates in dragonfly larvae (Sympetrum sanguineum). During the respiratory experiment, larvae were exposed to low and high concentrations of conspecific kairomones and kairomones with cues from injured conspecifics to simulate different population densities and conspecific interactions. Our results showed that high concentrations of kairomones and cues from injured conspecifics significantly increased larval respiration rates in comparison with controls and low concentrations. This suggests that in an environment with constant exposure to each other's cues, larvae face ongoing readiness costs, impacting their individual fitness and population dynamics.
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spelling doaj-art-c15bc467602a437e83fdec3efd4f13962025-08-20T03:26:04ZengWileyEcology and Evolution2045-77582025-02-01152n/an/a10.1002/ece3.70852Non‐Consumptive Effects of Cannibalism Elicit a Metabolic Response in Dragonfly LarvaeMonika Sysiak0Jakub Baczyński1Andrzej Mikulski2Department of Hydrobiology, Institute of Ecology, Faculty of Biology, Biological and Chemical Research Centre University of Warsaw Warsaw PolandInstitute of Evolutionary Biology, Faculty of Biology, Biological and Chemical Research Centre University of Warsaw Warsaw PolandDepartment of Hydrobiology, Institute of Ecology, Faculty of Biology, Biological and Chemical Research Centre University of Warsaw Warsaw PolandABSTRACT Predator–prey interactions typically involve changes in metabolic rates associated with hunting, foraging, and activation/maintenance of defense mechanisms. Similar response can result from non‐consumptive effects mediated by chemical cues, such as alarm cues (indicating predation), diet cues (signaling food resources), and kairomones (indicating predator or prey availability). While the impact of interspecific chemical communication on energy expenditure is well‐studied, the role of conspecific chemical cues is less understood. This study examines non‐consumptive effects of cannibalism on metabolic rates in dragonfly larvae (Sympetrum sanguineum). During the respiratory experiment, larvae were exposed to low and high concentrations of conspecific kairomones and kairomones with cues from injured conspecifics to simulate different population densities and conspecific interactions. Our results showed that high concentrations of kairomones and cues from injured conspecifics significantly increased larval respiration rates in comparison with controls and low concentrations. This suggests that in an environment with constant exposure to each other's cues, larvae face ongoing readiness costs, impacting their individual fitness and population dynamics.https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70852cannibalismchemical cuesdragonfliesoxygen consumptionpopulation dynamicsrespiration rate
spellingShingle Monika Sysiak
Jakub Baczyński
Andrzej Mikulski
Non‐Consumptive Effects of Cannibalism Elicit a Metabolic Response in Dragonfly Larvae
Ecology and Evolution
cannibalism
chemical cues
dragonflies
oxygen consumption
population dynamics
respiration rate
title Non‐Consumptive Effects of Cannibalism Elicit a Metabolic Response in Dragonfly Larvae
title_full Non‐Consumptive Effects of Cannibalism Elicit a Metabolic Response in Dragonfly Larvae
title_fullStr Non‐Consumptive Effects of Cannibalism Elicit a Metabolic Response in Dragonfly Larvae
title_full_unstemmed Non‐Consumptive Effects of Cannibalism Elicit a Metabolic Response in Dragonfly Larvae
title_short Non‐Consumptive Effects of Cannibalism Elicit a Metabolic Response in Dragonfly Larvae
title_sort non consumptive effects of cannibalism elicit a metabolic response in dragonfly larvae
topic cannibalism
chemical cues
dragonflies
oxygen consumption
population dynamics
respiration rate
url https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.70852
work_keys_str_mv AT monikasysiak nonconsumptiveeffectsofcannibalismelicitametabolicresponseindragonflylarvae
AT jakubbaczynski nonconsumptiveeffectsofcannibalismelicitametabolicresponseindragonflylarvae
AT andrzejmikulski nonconsumptiveeffectsofcannibalismelicitametabolicresponseindragonflylarvae