The macrophyte, Stratiotes aloides, protects larvae of dragonfly Aeshna viridis against fish predation

Rantala, Markus J.; Ilmonen, Jari; Koskimäki, Jani; Suhonen, Jukka; Tynkkynen, Katja

doi:10.1023/b:aeco.0000021005.22624.16

Cited by 54 publications

(46 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…parasite-mediated sexual selection (Hamilton and Zuk, 1982)], causing cuticle to darken because of its strong correlation with melanin-based immunity. Accordingly, female choice for greater male immune function via melanized cuticle has been shown previously in some insect systems (Rantala et al, 2000).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 64%

Seasonality influences cuticle melanization and immune defense in a cricket: support for a temperature-dependent immune investment hypothesis in insects

Fedorka

Copeland

Winterhalter

2013

Journal of Experimental Biology

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SUMMARYTo improve thermoregulation in colder environments, insects are expected to darken their cuticles with melanin via the phenoloxidase cascade, a phenomenon predicted by the thermal melanin hypothesis. However, the phenoloxidase cascade also plays a significant role in insect immunity, leading to the additional hypothesis that the thermal environment indirectly shapes immune function via direct selection on cuticle color. Support for the latter hypothesis comes from the cricket Allonemobius socius, where cuticle darkness and immune-related phenoloxidase activity increase with latitude. However, thermal environments vary seasonally as well as geographically, suggesting that seasonal plasticity in immunity may also exist. Although seasonal fluctuations in vertebrate immune function are common (because of flux in breeding or resource abundance), seasonality in invertebrate immunity has not been widely explored. We addressed this possibility by rearing crickets in simulated summer and fall environments and assayed their cuticle color and immune function. Prior to estimating immunity, crickets were placed in a common environment to minimize metabolic rate differences. Individuals reared under fall-like conditions exhibited darker cuticles, greater phenoloxidase activity and greater resistance to the bacteria Serratia marcescens. These data support the hypothesis that changes in the thermal environment modify cuticle color, which indirectly shapes immune investment through pleiotropy. This hypothesis may represent a widespread mechanism governing immunity in numerous systems, considering that most insects operate in seasonally and geographically variable thermal environments.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 64%

Seasonality influences cuticle melanization and immune defense in a cricket: support for a temperature-dependent immune investment hypothesis in insects

Fedorka

Copeland

Winterhalter

2013

Journal of Experimental Biology

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“…The refuge effect of macrophytes is particularly evident in clear-water lakes, and depends on the macrophyte species. Koperski (1998) and Rantala et al (2004) have stressed the role of the macrophyte species Stratiotes aloides as an effective shelter against predator pressure; similarly, dense characean stands may prevent intensive fish foraging (James et al 2000). These highly developed green algae tend to cover the sediment in dense mats which resemble meadows.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatial distribution of epiphytic chironomid larvae in a shallow macrophyte-dominated lake: effect of macrophyte species and food resources

Tarkowska‐Kukuryk

2014

Limnology

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Four submerged macrophytes were analysed with their respective assemblages of chironomid and algal taxa. Studies were made bimonthly, from January to November, in a shallow macrophyte-dominated lake. The periphytic algal community was represented by chlorophytes, diatoms and cyanobacteria; diatoms showed the highest relative abundance on the macrophyte species during the study. Algal biomass was affected by the season, and in January the highest values were found on Stratiotes aloides L., Potamogeton lucens L., Myriophyllum spicatum L.; in July on Chara aculeolata Kütz. The lowest algal biomass, on most of the macrophytes studied, was found in September. Larvae of Dicrotendipes sp., Diplocladius cultriger Kieffer, Endochironomus albipennis gr., Endochironomus impar (Walker), Glyptotendipes sp. and Paratanytarsus austriacus Kieffer were dominant within the chironomid community. The spatial distribution of chironomids between macrophytes species was related to periphytic algae biomass and certain environmental variables (temperature, water transparency, biomass of chlorophytes and diatoms). Analysis of chironomid diet and the results of canonical correspondence analysis confirmed this relationship. The strongest chironomid-algae relationships were observed on S. aloides and P. lucens.

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“…Measuring inducible defences, however, requires the use of proper immune activation techniques. In many systems, effective methods for activating host immune function have been developed (see Moret and SchmidHempel, 2000;Råberg and Stjernman, 2003;Rantala et al, 2000;Saino et al, 1997). In many others, however, results of activations are difficult to interpret, leading to a high number of ecologically relevant studies remaining unpublished.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Activation of the immune defence of the freshwater snailLymnaea stagnalisby different immune elicitors

Seppälä

Leicht

2013

Journal of Experimental Biology

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Lymnaea stagnalis is a holarctic freshwater snail inhabiting shallow littoral zones of stagnant waters such as lakes and ponds. It is an SUMMARY Understanding the outcomes of host-parasite interactions in nature is in high demand as parasites and pathogens are important for several ecological and evolutionary processes. Ecological immunology (ecoimmunology) has a key role in reaching this goal because immune defence is the main physiological barrier against infections. To date, ecoimmunological studies largely lean on measuring constitutive immune defences (components of defence that are always active). However, understanding the role of inducible components of immune function is important as the immune system is largely an inducible defence. Measuring such defences can be complicated as different parasites may activate different immune cascades, and expression of different immune traits may not be independent. We examined the suitability of different immune activation techniques for the freshwater snail Lymnaea stagnalis. By experimentally challenging snails with different immune elicitors [injection with snail saline (i.e. wounding), lyophilized Escherichia coli cells, lyophilized Micrococcus lysodeikticus cells, healthy snail gonad, and trematodeinfected snail gonad; maintenance in microorganism-enriched water] and measuring phenoloxidase-like and antibacterial activity of their haemolymph, we found increased immune activity against some immune elicitors, but also decreased activity. Our findings suggest potentially complicated relationships among immune traits, and propose suitable techniques for ecological studies in this study system.

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The macrophyte, Stratiotes aloides, protects larvae of dragonfly Aeshna viridis against fish predation

Cited by 54 publications

References 19 publications

Seasonality influences cuticle melanization and immune defense in a cricket: support for a temperature-dependent immune investment hypothesis in insects

Seasonality influences cuticle melanization and immune defense in a cricket: support for a temperature-dependent immune investment hypothesis in insects

Spatial distribution of epiphytic chironomid larvae in a shallow macrophyte-dominated lake: effect of macrophyte species and food resources

Activation of the immune defence of the freshwater snailLymnaea stagnalisby different immune elicitors

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