Methods for independently manipulating palatability and color in small insect prey

PLoS ONE, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 15(4), P. e0231205 - e0231205

Published: April 7, 2020

Understanding how the psychology of predators shapes defenses colorful aposematic prey has been a rich area inquiry, with emphasis on hypothesis-driven experiments that independently manipulate color and palatability in to examine predator responses. Most these studies focus avian predators, despite calls consider more taxonomically diverse predators. This taxonomic bias leaves gaps our knowledge about generalizability current theory. Here we have adapted tools successfully used bird scaled them down tested smaller (Habronattus jumping spiders) small insect (termites, milkweed bug nymphs, pinhead crickets, fruit flies). Specifically, test (1) application denatonium benzoate (DB) surface live termites, flies, (2) effectiveness manipulating nymphs through diet. We also combining manipulations various manipulations. Across several experiments, confirm are not detectable spiders before they attack (i.e., do produce aversive odors avoid), show unpalatable indeed quickly rejected habituate taste experience. investigate limitations techniques by assessing possible unintended effects behavior risk contact contamination when using DB-treated experiments. While similar relatively large prey, can be effectively for use invertebrate prey.

Language: Английский

Manipulation of male display traits has minimal effects on reproductive outcome in a jumping spider with dimorphic males

Animal Behaviour, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 207, P. 169 - 182

Published: Dec. 2, 2023

Language: Английский