A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
How Daphnia magna Defends Itself against Predators: Mechanisms and Adaptations in a Freshwater Microcosm
The freshwater water flea (Daphnia magna Straus, 1820) is prey for numerous predators. Yet it possesses a wide range of strategies to defend itself against predation. The aim of this work is to investigate the defensive mechanisms employed by D. magna to reduce predation by the coelenterate Hydra viridissima, and two planarians, Polycelis felina and Dugesia gonocephala. To do this, we used a freshwater microcosm. An additional aim is to investigate interactions with the presence of the isolated endosymbiotic algae from green hydra, thus combining and observing the interaction of the zooplankton and microalgal component. Each experiment included five replicates (13.5 °C, 25 °C), in crystallizing glass containers (60 mL volume, 60 mm diameter, 35 mm height), including satiated (fed with larvae of Artemia salina) and starved predators, respectively (one or five individuals of a particular predator species in one microcosm). As the isolated microalgae are unique, we tracked the following three mechanisms of Daphnia defense for the first time including precisely this microalgal component: (i) grouping (visual magnification), i.e., two or more Daphnia holding together; (ii) the phenomenon of overproduction, i.e., any number of Daphnia in one container above the 10 initially added individuals; and (iii) accelerated movement (“bullet movement”), i.e., high-speed movements in particular microcosms. The results provide new information for a better understanding of the interspecific relationships in systems that include both zooplankton and microalgal components.
How Daphnia magna Defends Itself against Predators: Mechanisms and Adaptations in a Freshwater Microcosm
The freshwater water flea (Daphnia magna Straus, 1820) is prey for numerous predators. Yet it possesses a wide range of strategies to defend itself against predation. The aim of this work is to investigate the defensive mechanisms employed by D. magna to reduce predation by the coelenterate Hydra viridissima, and two planarians, Polycelis felina and Dugesia gonocephala. To do this, we used a freshwater microcosm. An additional aim is to investigate interactions with the presence of the isolated endosymbiotic algae from green hydra, thus combining and observing the interaction of the zooplankton and microalgal component. Each experiment included five replicates (13.5 °C, 25 °C), in crystallizing glass containers (60 mL volume, 60 mm diameter, 35 mm height), including satiated (fed with larvae of Artemia salina) and starved predators, respectively (one or five individuals of a particular predator species in one microcosm). As the isolated microalgae are unique, we tracked the following three mechanisms of Daphnia defense for the first time including precisely this microalgal component: (i) grouping (visual magnification), i.e., two or more Daphnia holding together; (ii) the phenomenon of overproduction, i.e., any number of Daphnia in one container above the 10 initially added individuals; and (iii) accelerated movement (“bullet movement”), i.e., high-speed movements in particular microcosms. The results provide new information for a better understanding of the interspecific relationships in systems that include both zooplankton and microalgal components.
How Daphnia magna Defends Itself against Predators: Mechanisms and Adaptations in a Freshwater Microcosm
Goran Kovačević (author) / Petra Tramontana Ljubičić (author) / Daniela Petrinec (author) / Damir Sirovina (author) / Maja Novosel (author) / Davor Želježić (author)
2024
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
Unknown
Metadata by DOAJ is licensed under CC BY-SA 1.0
In The News - HFC industry defends itself
Online Contents | 2002
Uptake and effects of microplastic textile fibers on freshwater crustacean Daphnia magna
| Online Contents | 2016
Geno- and Ecotoxicity Evaluation of Silver Nanoparticles in Freshwater Crustacean Daphnia magna
| British Library Online Contents | 2010
Constructionline defends itself and Sir Michael Latham and Rachel Barnes face attack
British Library Online Contents | 2003